Wandsworth Town Property Partnership and ARC LRE Ltd Sign Landmark 10-Year Social Value Lease for Former Salvation Army Site on Ram Street
Wandsworth Town, London - May 21, 2025
Wandsworth Town Property Partnership (WTPP) and local developer ARC LRE Ltd have agreed to enter into an innovative 10-year social value lease as part of the proposed development of the former Salvation Army building at 9 Ram Street.
Proposal for the site (credit: GRID architects ltd, Design and Access Statement)
Subject to planning permission, this establishes a pre-let that secures the ground floor unit for community use – transforming it into a vibrant café and community space, complementary to the wider development.
WTPP and ARC LRE are working with the Feel Good Bakery, a social enterprise from youth charity Regenerate, to codesign the delivery and operation of the space. The café will not only serve the community but also provide much-needed employment skills training for local young people. ARC LRE is supporting the venture with a tiered, discounted rent, to enable sustainable growth and long-term social impact.
This marks the first formal agreement of its kind for WTPP – a collaborative local initiative unlocking buildings in Wandsworth Town for impactful community uses, ideas and businesses.
ARC LRE has also agreed for WTPP to commission and codesign a pop-up community mural on the building’s exterior this summer, which will celebrate local identity and contribute to the London Borough of Culture programme.
Subject to planning permission from Wandsworth Council, the full project is expected to complete in 2027. It is proposed that this lease agreement be written into the Section 106 legal agreement.
Brendan Conway, local resident and Project Lead at WTPP, said:
“This agreement shows how regenerating local assets can and should deliver direct, measurable benefits to local people, for the long term. By securing community space from the outset, we’re investing in young people, local enterprise, and a stronger Wandsworth Town for years to come. We look forward to supporting the current planning application which is due for decision at the planning committee in the coming months.”
Ben Leek, Director at ARC LRE Ltd, added:
“This is a significant step in regenerating the Ram Street area in Wandsworth Town. The development will provide much-needed hotel accommodation and employment opportunities, whilst creating a modern, sustainable and fit-for-purpose commercial/community space on the ground floor. Working with WTPP and socially-trading partners like Regenerate has been fantastic, and demonstrates a practical approach that enables the development to really deliver social value and regeneration of an underutilised site.”
Andy Smith from Regenerate added,
“Working through partnerships at this early stage is a game-changer in our ability to deliver long-term social value through our ongoing work with local communities. We are delighted to be involved in this proposed development, which prioritises creating work opportunities for local residents.”
This partnership sets a new benchmark for socially inclusive and impactful regeneration in Wandsworth Town, demonstrating the power of meaningful collaboration between developers, local partnerships, and community organisations.
WTPP’s work is part of the pilot programme of Local Property Partnerships, facilitated by Platform Places (a national cross-sector collaboration and social enterprise), and funded by National Lottery Community Fund (made possible by National Lottery players).
Notes to editors
For media inquiries or further information, please contact: helena@platformplaces.com
About Wandsworth Town Property Partnership
The Wandsworth Town Property Partnership is a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, and social isolation by unlocking town centre buildings for impactful ideas and businesses. Comprising a diverse coalition of stakeholders, the partnership seeks to foster affordability, sustainability, and community cohesion in Wandsworth Town. Wandsworth Town Property Partnership is part of a UK-wide movement called Platform Places, co-founded by the High Streets Task Force, Power to Change, Legal & General, council leaders, and community entrepreneurs. It is committed to unlocking high street buildings for brilliant local ideas and community use or ownership and has commissioned a Wandsworth based consultancy Transformation by Design to deliver this work.
About Local Property Partnerships
The National Lottery Community Fund has supported Platform Places and partners with almost £2.5 million over three years - made possible by National Lottery players. The funding will be used to enable communities to come together and secure long-term spaces for the activities and services that they need the most.
About the National Lottery Community Fund
We are the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name.
We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.
We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.
As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:
1. Come together
2. Be environmentally sustainable
3. Help children and young people thrive
4. Enable people to live healthier lives.
Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute around £500 million a year through 10,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4bn of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £47 billion has been raised and more than 670,000 individual grants have been made across the UK - the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.
