The Tannery

: London

The Tannery is a vibrant, culture-led development in Bermondsey, London, delivering a unique blend of mixed-tenure homes, creative workspaces and public art infrastructure. Located on the historic site of a former tannery and the Crosse & Blackwell pickle factory, the 1.98-hectare neighbourhood is part of a masterplan by AHMM for London Square that includes 400 homes and over 136,000 sqft of commercial and cultural space.

Our scheme brings together heritage and contemporary architecture through three buildings designed around active courtyards and pedestrian routes. A purpose-built gallery and studios for Tannery Arts and Drawing Room are placed at the heart of the neighbourhood. These spaces support a creative community through secured 25-year tenancy agreements at significantly reduced rent, providing long-term affordable workspace for artists. A sawtooth roof brings ideal light conditions to the gallery and studios, while a new urban square outside encourages public interaction with the arts. Adjacent to the gallery is the striking Bar of Light, a five-storey block featuring dual-aspect private and affordable apartments and two-storey townhouses. Its perforated aluminium facade and expressive black concrete staircase exemplify the integration of bold design with practical, high-quality housing. On the opposite end of the plot, the retained Unit 12 warehouse has been reimagined as dual-aspect loft apartments above active ground floor artist studios. Original industrial elements are retained and adapted to provide high-quality living environments. The Tannery celebrates layered urban living and demonstrates how culture and community can be embedded at the core of residential development.