Neighbourhood Centre topped out

Guests gathered on the top floor just before sunset on Thursday to enjoy panoramic views of the Oxo Tower and Coin Street's pioneering housing developments.

The new Neighbourhood Centre is on the corner of Stamford Street and Coin Street. Immediately to its north is the Iroko Housing Co-operative which was designed by the Centre's architects Haworth Tompkins.

The Vauxhall MP was welcomed to the building's top floor by Coin Street Community Builders director Iain Tuckett who said that the structure would include a permanent home for Coin Street Community Builders staff.

The development will also include a family & children's centre [currently at 99 Upper Ground], meeting and conference facilities, a learning and enterprise support centre, a community cafe and a restaurant.

Kate Hoey praised the successful funding for the building. More than £5 million of the cost of the development has been raised by Coin Street Community Builders, with the remainder coming from the Single Regeneration Budget, London Development Agency and Children's Centre/SureStart programmes via Lambeth and Southwark Early Years.

The Lambeth MP said that she looked forward to returning for the opening in September next year.

Guests included representatives of the main builder Rooff Ltd, whose recent local work includes the Siobhan Davies Dance Studios, and other contractors. David Noakes, a councillor for Southwark's Cathedrals Ward which includes the Oxo Tower, was also present.