Back in December we reported on plans to convert the street next to BAC in to a small urban park.  This was a popular proposal, even though (as we noted) some of the finer details were still likely to need to be ironed out on what is a complicated patch of land with many different owners.  The good news is that work has now started on the site – it’s fenced off and the existing pavement has been pulled up.    The roof of the storage sheds attached to the neighbouring flats has also been cleared.  The intention is for this rather underused space to house plants, as well as a twisted roof girder that was rescued from the fire in the Grand Hall, and which will be reborn as a feature set among the plants.

The whole idea behind the ‘urban park’ is a good bit of creative thinking by BAC, and this will definitely be a welcome improvement on what was there before, and bring a little green in to a space that wasn’t used for much other than deliveries and occasional storage of materials.  The plans provide for some outdoor seating for the Scratch Bar.

Having a more attractive exterior space will also help to make BAC more attractive as a venue for hire, and support the development of the shared workspace on the lower ground floor – an important stream of income for any business, and especially important given that BAC (since it which is now independent from Wandsworth) has to stand on its own feet financially.