Towards a Brixton Central ‘masterplan’

The Brixton Central area includes the station, Brixton Station Road, Atlantic Road and the land between the viaducts (see map). It’s identified as a major area for investment in the Brixton SPD. Local people are now helping set out proposals for the long-term future of this part of the town centre.

You can read about these proposals here and feed your comments back via our short questionnaire by Friday 8 August.

Who is involved?

The two major landowners, Lambeth Council and Network Rail, have jointly appointed AECOM and Fluid Architects to work with local people to produce a masterplan development brief for Brixton Central. This will guide investment in the area, setting out the type and scale of development that is acceptable.

You can read more about the background to the project on the board below.

Working together

Local people have helped to draft the proposals so far – through one-to-one meetings, group sessions and workshops. These included discussions with students from Evelyn Grace Academy.

We held two workshops with the Community Reference Group to develop the proposals.

In the first workshop they looked at different types of town centre activities, alongside their potential commercial viability and community benefit. Spaces for creative industries, tech companies and business start-ups ranked highly.

In the second workshop they discussed where these activities could go in Brixton Central – for instance the former ice rink site, International House, or the land between the viaducts.

You can read more about how we worked together in the summary report here and in the exhibition boards below.

The opportunities

Based on these discussions we’ve come up with two potential scenarios (scenario A and scenario B). Please take time to read through the presentation attached and let us know what you think by completing a short questionnaire. This is not a question of either or, rather we want to know what you like or don’t like about each of them.

A very brief overview is provided in the text below. For more detail please look through this presentation.

Scenario A

This is focused on bringing forward more studios and workspace, as well as spaces for the community to come together, including an outdoor space events and relaxation.

It also provides space for new cultural, leisure, learning and community activity, as well as basement parking for market traders and public use.

New homes are proposed on the former ice rink site, International House, above the station and the upper storeys between the viaducts. New shops are proposed on the ground floor between the viaducts and on the former ice rink site facing Brixton Station Road.

Scenario B

This is focused on extending the indoor markets between the viaducts, with a mix of retail opportunities. Studios and workspace are provided on the upper floors as well as on Pope’s Road and in a refurbished International House.

A new public square is proposed on Pope’s Road, fronting onto a new train station entrance and there is a hotel above the refurbished train station. A car park is also provided as part of a new development.

New homes are proposed on the upper storeys of the former ice rink site and between the viaducts, as well as on Pope’s Road opposite the Rec. New shops are proposed on the ground floor of the former ice rink site facing Brixton Station Road.

Many opportunities are common to both, including:

• Potential to pedestrianize Atlantic Road during the day, with access for local buses.
• Potential to pedestrianize Pope’s Road
• New station entrance onto Pope’s Road
• To the north, the height of the development to be lower (about 6 storeys) to relate to surrounding buildings
• To the east, the arches on Brixton Station Road to be used for studios and workshops and an outdoor yard and units between the viaducts for market storage, workshops and light industry

We want to know what you like and don’t like about these scenarios. Which elements do you prefer? Please view the presentation before completing the questionnaire here.

Emerging development principles

A number of principles (or priorities) have come out of the discussions we’ve had with local people. These are:

1. Affordable housing
2. Local jobs
3. Affordable workspace and retail
4. A refurbished and improved railway station
5. New public realm
6. A sustainable mix of retail and employment space
7. Town centre car parking
8. Culture and community
9. Local energy network
10. Enhancing the Rec
11. A London Overground station
12. Continued community involvement

We want to know which of these you like or don’t like. If you had to prioritise four of them which would be your favourites?

What other community benefits could there be?

Please view the presentation and then complete the questionnaire here. The full exhibition is also available to look at here.

Your help and next steps

During July we held a community reference group workshop and pop-up stalls around Brixton town centre. Hundreds of people have come and talked to us about Brixton Central at the pop-up stalls we held in Brixton Market, Windrush Square and Brixton Village. We were also at the Lambeth Country Show. This week we’ll be hosting a drop-in exhibition in Electric Avenue on:

• Tuesday 22 July, 1-7pm
• Wednesday 23 July, 2-8pm
• Thursday 24 July, 10am - 4pm

You’ll also be able to let us know what you think via the questionnaire until Friday 8 August.

Your views are important and we’ll use all the feedback to produce a draft Brixton Central masterplan that we’ll publish in the Autumn. At this time we aim to hold a further reference group meeting and another drop-in exhibition. Any feedback at this stage will be responded to in the final masterplan report, expected later in the Autumn.

Read more about delivery and next steps below