Case Study: Peckham
Events at the former Baptist Church
Inver helps landlords turn empty commercial properties into spaces that do good — for the community and for their bottom line. One of our recent projects in Peckham is a compelling example of how charitable occupation can transform disused buildings into vibrant hubs of creativity and connection, while delivering substantial business rates savings.
In the heart of Peckham, a former Baptist church had stood empty since it’s closure. With its congregation relocated and the building no longer in use, it quickly became a liability: exposed to risks like squatting, vandalism and structural decline, while still racking up significant business rates costs. Rather than allow the site to fall into further disrepair, the owner was eager to explore a more purposeful interim use — one that would reduce ongoing costs and benefit the surrounding community.
We identified the building as a strong candidate for charitable occupation. While not suitable for residential use, the property was ideal for a cultural or creative programme. Working with a charity that supports emerging artists, we helped convert the space into a multi-use creative venue. Today, it is a home for cultural exhibitions, performances, workshops and events that are open to the public. The building is once again a place where people gather, create and contribute to the community — not just an empty shell.
By establishing the site as a recognised space for charitable use, the landlord benefited from 80% business rates relief, significantly reducing the cost of holding the property while planning for it’s long-term use.
This project also formed part of a wider initiative. Next door, our sister company LOWE took on a former carpenter’s workshop, which had also sat vacant. This building was refurbished and converted into residential accommodation under their guardianship model, providing four affordable homes for key workers and young professionals priced out of the local rental market. Together, the two projects demonstrate the power of flexible, socially minded property use — with one building supporting the local arts scene and the other helping to alleviate housing pressures.
The results speak for themselves. A vacant church has been brought back into active, community-focused use, the owner secured substantial savings through rates mitigation, local artists and makers now have a place to work and share their craft, and what could easily have become a neglected corner of Peckham has become a space full of energy, creativity and community engagement.
At Inver, we believe that no building should sit empty when it could be doing good. Through charitable occupation, we help landlords protect their assets, reduce costs, and make a tangible, positive impact on the world around them. This project in Peckham is just one example of what’s possible.
