Current Developments

Acme Studios is committed to developing new affordable studio projects in response to the huge demand from artists and threats to existing provision elsewhere in London.

To support this commitment we were awarded £2 million from Arts Council England's Grants for the arts - capital programme towards our long-term plan to develop more affordable, permanent, high-quality and accessible studios for artists.

The Galleria in Peckham, SE15, was the first project in this programme. Opened in January 2006, this new studio block, designed and built in partnership with Barratt Homes, was established as a ground-breaking 'planning gain' development. The success of this project has encouraged Acme to explore further partnerships with house builders, housing associations and local authorities. In April 2010, Acme opened new studios at Harrow Road as part of a major new housing scheme with Catalyst Housing Group in Kensal Green NW10.

We have a number of non-residential studio projects currently in development including:

Childers Street, Deptford, SE8

Acme has had studios at Childers Street since 1990. In 2010, a new lease was signed on the whole building which secured the 102 existing studios and the empty ground floor. Construction group Bryen & Langely and architect Anita Sen were appointed to convert the vacant space into 30 studios. Work is underway and the new studios are due to open in September 2010.

High Street Stratford, Newham, E15

Acme's involvement in this large-scale development is the result of a long-term relationship with the London Borough of Newham. The regeneration department of Newham has been looking to replace the loss of our building in Carpenters Road, which was demolished to make way for the Olympic Park. Working with Genesis Housing Group, 15 studios will be provided in a landmark listed building, Warton House, as part of a project involving 655 residential units, a 153 bedroom hotel and over 13,000 square feet of retail and commerical space. The target completion date for the studios is February 2012.

Lesney Matchbox Works, Homerton Road, E9

Developed in partnership with Telford Homes, this major scheme involves the demolition of the existing factory and the redevelopment of the site to provide three blocks ranging in height from between four to fifteen storeys to provide retail, commercial, 49 studios and 209 residential units (40% affordable). The target completion date is July 2012.

Please watch this space for further information about these schemes and other new projects.