Only a decade ago Southwark was the second most deprived local authority area in England and Peckham at its centre was one of the worst areas in that borough, writes David Lawrenson.

Then, in 1995 things began to change for the better. With £60million to spend from the Single Regeneration Budget, Southwark Council set up the Peckham Partnership and dragged in a total of £290million to spend on initiatives in the area.

One of the cornerstones of the initiatives was the 2,000 council, private and housing association homes, built to a pattern of streets, terraces, and public parks and a town square framed by a new Peckham Library and leisure centre.

Private housing got a boost too. A programme at Bellenden provided investment for that areas' private housing stock and the Bellenden housing renewal programme transformed the neighbourhood into a place of restaurants, artists' studios, shops and open spaces.

The Bellenden area is south of Peckham Rye station in south west Peckham lying between Grove Vale, Goose Green, East Dulwich Road, Peckham Rye, Rye Lane, and the railway line between Peckham Rye and East Dulwich stations.