Coin Street Community Builders

Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB) is a social enterprise and development trust established in 1984 on London’s South Bank, created to transform a neglected 13-acre site between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. The impetus for its formation came from a seven-year community campaign, launched in response to plans for large-scale office and hotel developments that many local residents feared would displace the remaining community and erode local character. The community’s efforts culminated in the purchase of the site from the Greater London Council for £1 million. Since then, CSCB has developed four housing co-operatives—Mulberry, Palm, Redwood, and Iroko—providing tenant-owned, affordable homes. Notably, the organization redeveloped the Oxo Tower Wharf, now a landmark featuring designer studios, shops, and restaurants, as well as Gabriel’s Wharf and Bernie Spain Gardens, a riverside park. Income generated from leasing commercial properties and venues funds a range of community programs, including youth clubs, sports and dance sessions, childcare, and family support. The Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, opened in 2007, houses offices, a day nursery, and event spaces. CSCB’s work has shaped a district now recognized for its mix of housing, green spaces, independent businesses, and ongoing community activity. The organization remains structured as a company limited by guarantee, reinvesting surplus income back into the neighborhood rather than distributing profits to shareholders. Today, Coin Street is cited as a model of community-led urban renewal in London.