Artists are invited to submit designs for a public art commission to create a large-scale mural at Higgs Yard, a new housing development in Loughborough Junction. The chosen artist will receive a £10,000 fee.
The major artwork will span 80 metres along an elevated railway wall, providing an inspiring view for Higgs Yard residents and adding a bold new feature to the area’s creative landscape.
The project is being led by not-for-profit housing association Peabody, in partnership with arts organisation The Brixton Project, who have been commissioned to manage the process. A community steering group, including residents and local groups, will also play a central role in shaping the final artwork.
Community-led artwork
Artists are invited to design a piece that feels inspiring, playful and culturally inclusive. It should reflect what the local community wants and appeal to all ages.
The chosen design should celebrate the area’s rich cultural heritage, architectural features and history, while reflecting the voices and stories of local people.
The mural will be seen from two different viewpoints and should appeal to both Higgs Yard residents and create an interesting sight at street level.
Community engagement is central to the commission, so artists should include clear plans for involving local people in the design. Once selected, the chosen artist will deliver two community workshops.
Selection process
Submissions will be reviewed by Peabody and The Brixton Project and then shortlisted by a Community Steering Group including residents from Higgs Yard, Loughborough Junction Action Group, Rapport Festival, Inclusion Arts and Lambeth ELEVATE.
Three shortlisted artists will each receive £1,000 to develop their proposals and demonstrate how they will engage the community.
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, 18th February, 5PM
There will be a budget on top of the fee to complete the final artwork, which will be installed by The London Mural Company.
Adriana Marques, Assistant Director for Cultural Strategy and Programming at Peabody, said:
“This commission is about more than a mural – it’s about reflecting the character, stories and culture that shape Loughborough Junction. We’re excited to see the ideas artists bring forward and to work with the community to create a bold new landmark that feels welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone who calls this place home.”
Binki Taylor, Director at The Brixton Project:
“We’re looking forward to the Higgs Yard mural becoming a distinctive and joyful feature of the local landscape of iconic public art; transforming the everyday streets of south London into culturally rich places of connection and belonging.”
More information and application details are available at linktr.ee/thebrixtonproject
About
Higgs Yard is a major development with 134 new homes, half of which Peabody delivered at affordable rates. It also includes 36,000 square feet of commercial space, helping to create local jobs.
The site, designed by architects PRP and built by Durkan, transformed a former industrial estate into homes. In the past, the site has also been a builders’ yard, a private house and a boys’ school.
Loughborough Junction has shifted from being a place people passed through to a neighbourhood with a strong community identity. With a diverse mix of independent shops, arts studios, restaurants serving food from across the globe and welcoming community spaces, it has a creative and dynamic spirit.
This commission follows the S106 agreement for Higgs Yard and contributes to Peabody’s mission to create great places to live.
Peabody is one of the UK’s oldest and largest not-for-profit housing associations, founded by philanthropist George Peabody in 1862 to help Londoners in need. Today, we take a local approach, working with residents and communities to strengthen our 140 neighbourhoods, provide quality homes and deliver a range of services to support people when they need it most.
We look after 109,000 homes and 220,000 residents across London and the home counties, plus the community centres, play areas, and green spaces that bring these areas to life. We provide residents with reliable landlord services and keep these places well-maintained. We also provide care and support services to around 25,000 customers, including specialist accommodation and vital support for people affected by a range of social and health issues.
We’re focused on listening to residents so we can deliver better services and better homes and places. Our local teams work closely with residents, councils and partners to tackle inequality, improve wellbeing and strengthen communities. Alongside this, we’re committed to playing our part where we can in building more affordable homes which our communities need.
With an average rent of £147 a week, we offer real value, and our homes remain significantly more affordable than the market. In 2024–25, we spent £431 million on maintaining and improving residents’ homes
