Hundreds getting involved in the Brixton Central masterplan
Written by Future Brixton team
July 17, 2014
Categories: Brixton Central
Local people have helped to come up with a number of ideas about how the Brixton Central area could change for the better. Now, we need to know what you think.
So far more than 30 people came to the Community Reference Group workshop and we’ve spoken with hundreds of local businesses, residents and shoppers during three pop-up events this week. We were on Brixton Station Road market (Sat), Windrush Square (Tues) and at Brixton Village (Wed) so thanks to everyone who came and shared their views.
What have people been talking about?
- Car parking has come through as a key issue, especially from local businesses.
- There has also been a good debate about the height of buildings, with different views on how high buildings should be and where the tall buildings could be located.
- People have told us affordable homes and the potential for affordable workspace are important and they want a mix of independent shop.
- Lots of people have also talked about the need for public realm improvements.
Join the debate
We’ll be at the fantastic Lambeth Country Show this weekend (stand 27 in the Picnic Area) and then next week we’ll be hosting an exhibition in one of the units underneath the train station on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (see calendar opposite for details).
More details about the proposals, including an exhibition, a presentation and a questionnaire are on the Brixton Central masterplan page. Please take a look at the ideas so far and let us know what you think. The closing date to feed back is Friday 8 August.
Traffic and public transport are major issues in the centre of Brixton. (No doubt others have commented on this too, so sorry for any repetition). On the one hand, as a generality (I don’t have any figures to hand), the heavy traffic contributes to poor air quality. On the other hand, much of the traffic is because Brixton is one of the most important transport hubs in south London, illustrated by the almost continuous queues of buses that crawl through it, especially at peak times. The number of buses must at least in part reflect the huge need for passengers in Brixton’s ‘hinterland’ to travel to and from the underground station. To me three things would therefore reduce road traffic: (1) extension of the Victoria Line, (2) a tram route, and (3) improved interchange between the two existing stations PLUS an interchange with the Overground. The first two have been mooted for decades and nothing ever happens, and clearly nothing is going to happen any time soon. The third is a relatively recent opportunity which opened up when the Overground began. I gather this possible interchange has been considered but ruled out on costs. This is a massive lost opportunity, and (to me at least) a ridiculous ‘head in the sand’ case, inconceivable in many of our neighbouring countries. In any case, it benefits all of London, not just Brixton, to have a properly joined up public transport rail system. My guess is that when a parallel situation has existed in more prosperous and high profile parts of London, like Docklands and the new luxury Battersea Power Station project, public transport funding has ‘miraculously’ been made available. Beautiful and interesting building plans and new amenities are all very well, but so long as these three public transport issues in Brixton fail to be addressed, Brixton’s main thoroughfare and adjacent areas will always be a congested and polluting traffic jam - a horrible frustrating experience for pedestrians and road users alike. (And all this is without commenting on the need for a proper cycleway though (or round) the middle of Brixton too.)