Welcome
The Walworth Town Hall is being restored to reunite with the local community; the building will offer workspaces to small and medium creative businesses and a variety of services and activities to meet the needs of local businesses and residents.
The Walworth Town Hall Community Space Board are delighted to announce the launch of our Expression of Interest in a two-stage tender process to find an exceptional operator to run our unique community space, which is scheduled to reopen in 2024.
The community space is situated within the historic and iconic Walworth Town Hall building complex located in the heart of Walworth; minutes away from Elephant and Castle in south London.
The Opportunity
The reopening of the former Walworth Town Hall (WTH) and Newington Library is scheduled for early 2024 and we, the WTH Community Space Board are seeking to appoint a third party not-for-profit organisation to operate and manage the community space.
As an operator, you will have the opportunity to deliver projects and lead on programs that aspire to meet a mixture of needs and be the first of its kind.
We are seeking an organisation that shares our values; is passionate about our local community and respects the heritage of the magnificently restored Grade II listed WTH building. The selected operating organisation will bring passion and experience in collaborative working with an ability to build strong partnerships with local community groups.
Our operator will align with our vision - to have a thriving and inclusive community space where a range of activities take place throughout the day and week to cater for the needs of all members of our local population. Activities could range from youth clubs, healthy ageing, historical interest groups to events or any other use that you think would benefit the community.
We invite operator proposals that prioritise social value and understand the benefit of creating a diverse and inclusive community space.
The Building
As the focal point for the local community since 1865, the heritage buildings stand defiantly as one of London’s truly iconic civic buildings. The building is Grade II listed for its architectural and heritage merit. Following a major fire in 2013, the Town Hall is being brought back to life as a prominent mixed-use community hub.
The redevelopment of the complex is being undertaken by General Projects, who were selected by Southwark Council via a two-stage open bid process in 2018-19; it was granted planning permission at the end of 2020. General Projects are working with Peckham based architects Feix & Merlin.
Further information on the development can be found on the General Projects website:
https://www.generalprojects.com/portfolio/walworth-town-hall/
The buildings sit prominently on the Walworth Road, at the Northern end next to the new Elephant Park neighbourhood. The building has been at the heart of the Walworth and Elephant & Castle communities since it was built; it was once a vibrant place where residents visited services such as the Newington Library, the Cuming Museum, community groups, the Southwark Council One Stop Shop and so much more. Many local residents hold memories of weddings and celebrations that have taken place at the Town Hall over the years.
Walworth is encompassed by a rich and diverse culture with a considerable Latin American and Afro-Caribbean community embedded within. Adjacent to the buildings, within the new Elephant Park campus, is the newly built Walworth Library and Southwark Heritage Centre which houses the complex history of the area with artefacts and artwork bringing those stories to life.
The entire area around the buildings has experienced tremendous growth in recent years; with investment in housing developments bringing a wave of new residents to the diverse local community. The WTH sits amongst it all and will be the beating heart of this lively area once complete.
![WTH-Community operator Brief[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/752361_493923290f9d46b68487aa5f917e7514~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_500,h_333,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/WTH-Community%20operator%20Brief%5B1%5D.jpg)
Get Involved
In the meantime, we are inviting members of the community from diverse backgrounds to infuse this restored space with their cultures, creativity and ideas to breathe life into every corner of our Town Hall.
While the Walworth Town Hall is being transformed, we invite each and every member of our diverse borough to contribute their unique experiences, stories, and talents.
Together, we'll paint a canvas of inclusivity, where everyone's voice is heard and celebrated.
Let's create a vibrant hub that showcases how colourful our cultural heritage is and inspire generations to come and foster a true sense of belonging.