The Tannery is a culture-led neighbourhood in Bermondsey that combines mixed-tenure homes, creative workspaces and public art infrastructure within a wider masterplan by AHMM for London Square. Arranged as three buildings around active courtyards and pedestrian routes, it weaves heritage and contemporary architecture across a former tannery and food manufacturing site. The plan sets out phased delivery with a balance of private and affordable homes alongside townhouses and loft-style apartments, supported by ground-floor uses that animate streets and connect into the local urban grain.
At its heart, purpose-built space for Tannery Arts and Drawing Room anchors a creative community. Long-term, discounted leases secure affordable studios and a dedicated gallery, with a sawtooth roof delivering consistent natural light for making
and exhibition. A new urban square encourages public engagement, drawing people into and through the site. Culture is treated as everyday infrastructure rather than an add-on, sustaining local talent and broadening access.
A striking block known as the Bar of Light offers dual-aspect apartments and two-storey townhouses, expressed with perforated aluminium and a sculptural black concrete stair. Across the plot, a retained warehouse becomes loft apartments above active studios, with original industrial fabric adapted for contemporary living. The ensemble delivers characterful homes, varied layouts and generous daylight within a distinctive architectural language suited to a mid-density urban context.
Judges praised a clear architectural concept and an exceptional response to a tight urban site, noting engaging communal space-making and a cohesive sense of place. They commended the richness of mixed uses and tenures, the quality and distinctiveness of materials, and thoughtful layouts with excellent light. The approach was viewed as innovative yet restrained, with careful attention to overheating, strong landscaping and real community focus. Overall, it was judged a high-calibre benchmark for culture-shaped, mixed-use living. One judge remarked: “The Tannery is a standout example of how mixed-use development can be genuinely shaped by culture, context and community.”
