By Joe Campbell
Who is he and what has he achieved?
Peter John became a Labour councillor for South Camberwell ward in 2002, the leader of Southwark Labour in 2004. and leader of Southwark council in 2010. [https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwark/exclusive-council-leader-steps-down-after-ten-years/]
Soon after, in July 2010, he signed an agreement with Lendlease (then called “Lend Lease”) to replace Elephant and Castle’s Heygate estate with a private development set to include only 25% social housing. [https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4712] This was 10% below the council’s target for apartment buildings to include 35% social housing (N.B. this was reduced to 20% only last month [https://www.35percent.org/posts/mayor-to-slash-affordable-housing-requirement-from-35-to-20/]). In the end, only 79 properties of the new development were set at social rent level. Leadlease did pay for Cllr John to attend a conference at which the world’s property developers were keen to meet public officials who could facilitate the sale of council-owned land and homes.
Eventually, Southwark Council sold the 25 acre, Zone 1 Heygate estate to Lendlease for just £50M, even after spending £44M to rehouse and buy out the residents.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21338296]
In 2014, Cllr John sold the Aylesbury estate’s 60 acres with 2,759 council homes to Notting Hill Genesis, to develop housing to include 50% “affordable housing”. However, none of the 3,500 new properties are council flats.
[https://www.35percent.org/posts/2021-08-05-former-council-leader-slides-through-the-revolving-doors/] Subsequently, 581 of the homes in Phase 1 did have to become council homes and Southwark council agreed to avoid a net loss of social rented housing. [https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwark/aylesbury-regen-increase-in-social-rent-housing-in-phase-2-means-all-tenants-from-later-development-stages-will-have-off-plan-homes-ready-by-2028/]
In 2018, Southwark Council sold 15 hectares of council-owned land at Canada Water to developer British Land. [https://www.room151.co.uk/151-news/southwark-joins-british-land-in-deal-for-3000-new-homes-at-canada-water/]
Cllr John also continued to defend Delancey’s revised proposal for only 33 of the properties of 979 in the new Elephant and Castle shopping centre to be affordable. [https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/9599], despite rejection from the planning committee. After a local campaign, the number of social rented homes rose to 116. [https://www.35percent.org/posts/2021-08-05-former-council-leader-slides-through-the-revolving-doors/]
Peter John stepped down as head of Southwark council in September 2020 and became a chairman at The Terrapin Group in December 2020, while remaining a councillor for Champion Hill ward. The Terrapin Group – founded by another former councillor – advises major property developers. These clients include;
- Delancey; the Elephant and Castle shopping centre landlord and developer
- Lendlease, who developed Elephant Park
- Avanton; the largest developer involved in the Old Kent Road opportunity area.
Peter John has stated that he doesn’t believe that councillors - elected by ward residents to serve those residents - should be barred from taking on such roles simultaneously, saying that “in an inner London borough, you will always get people working in these types of roles.”
Peter John OBE was selected by Kier Starmer to join the New Year's honours list. [https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwark/former-leader-of-southwark-council-peter-john-receives-peerage/]
[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/political-peerages-december-2025]
Lord John of Southwark is set to be introduced to the House of Lords on Thursday 8th January. [https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliament-matters-bulletin-5-january-2026]
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