The Annie McCall is a unique and evocative piece of national history which was Grade 2 listed in 2011. The site consisted of two four-storey Victorian houses and an imposing main building with later extensions. The main building, an attractive three-storey red brick Victorian construction circa 1885, was founded as a maternity hospital by Dr Annie McCall, one of the first 50 women to qualify as doctors in Britain. It was the first in England to be fully staffed by women.

Having served the local community for nearly a hundred years, the building then became an inspiring home to around 25 local artists for over a quarter of a century. The buildings were in a perilous state by the time we acquired them.

London Borough of Lambeth had previously attempted to sell or redevelop the buildings but with no success, due to lack of vacant possession and political sensitivity. We were able to manage the difficult relationship between the local authority and the artists, and navigated interest from the national press.

We met with the more sensible contingent within the artists’ collective and, in agreement with them, we constructed 16 purpose-built artists’ studios of around 200sq.ft each, available to rent. Some twelve years later, the studios remain hugely popular with rarely any void periods. 39 apartments were created within and around the former hospital. The project won multiple awards.