The Brixton SPD, which is a guide for development in the town centre, was approved by the council’s Cabinet on 10 June 2013. Thank you to everyone who took the time to get involved. The Cabinet Report, the Brixton SPD and Consultation Statement are available here and on the council’s website. All consultation documents are available in the library section on this site.

It’s clear that people want to preserve Brixton’s much-loved character and the unique qualities that make it such a special place. Setting out these new planning guidelines for Brixton will help us to ensure that future developments won’t put those qualities at risk, but will deliver the new jobs and homes that Brixton needs. We want all residents and businesses to benefit from Brixton’s success - and better quality transport, public realm and leisure facilities will help to support this. Cllr Pete Robbins, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration

How we prepared the Brixton Supplementary Planning Document

The development of the supplementary planning document (or SPD) has been a continuation of the work for the Brixton Masterplan, which was adopted in 2009. Community involvement and engagement in the drafting of the SPD falls into four phases (see diagram above and Background section below).

• The Brixton Masterplan
• Development of draft principles
• Co-drafting of Brixton SPD
• Statutory consultation

Here is an overview of the statutory consultation process.

What we did

The Statutory Consultation took place between 4 Feb and 15 Mar 2013

• Consultation mailout signalled start of consultation and 2,199 individuals and organisations were notified (49 written submissions were received)
• Copies of documents available online and in libraries, town hall and at Phoenix House
• Consultation booklet and questionnaire
  • Sent to every address in Brixton wards (approx 30k) and available at various public spaces across the town centre (including library, coffee shops, Brixton Rec)
  • Contained 15 statements across themes of ‘homes’, ‘getting around’, ‘town centre’, ‘more
  • Promoted how to find out more, talk to officers direct and respond to consultation
  • 555 responses received and 380 of these provided additional information
  • Futurebrixton.org was the hub of all information about the programme and included links to other local sites (e.g. Urban75 and Brixton Society)
    • 16 comments made directly on website; 6,634 views during consultation period (average 162 per day)
    • Roadshows – 5 events held at Morleys, Tesco, Brixton Rec, Ritzy and Warm and Well event (approx 950 visitors)
    • ‘Mole’ events – attended existing meetings, Young People’s Working Group, Housing Forum and TTB Shared Space (with approx 43 attendees)
    • Drop-in sessions – 4 sessions took place at Town Hall for people to discuss any issues with officers (approx 14 visitors)
    • Promotion – included email updates to Future Brixton mailing list; 49 tweets from @Future Brixton with reach of more than 30,000; Facebook page; article in Lambeth Talk, advert in Brixton Bugle and on Brixton Blog homepage
    • Other digital engagement – took comments from local discussion sites, e.g. Urban 75 (27 comments)

What you said

• Key themes:
  • Respect the character of Brixton
  • Don’t price local residents and businesses out of the area

From questionnaire responses and comments

• 555 questionnaire responses – high proportion of white British and home owners
• Widespread agreement with majority of statements – 9 out of 15 had between 80-96% of people agreeing with them
• People less likely to agree with the area-specific projects looking at making better use of council assets (63-76% agreement)

Most support for markets (96%), a varied and safe evening offer (95%); and support for local/independent businesses (95%)

The Consultation Statement is published as a supporting document in the Library and on the Council’s website. Separate reports on the questionnaire and other activities are also published in the Library.

Concerns

• Significant amount of new homes (56% agreeing)
  • Most likely statement to have a ‘don’t know’ response (25%)
  • Agreement varied with tenure, e.g. 83% of people in social housing, 64% of private renters agreed compared to just under half of owner occupiers (49%)
  • There were 45 additional comments on the questionnaires – very mixed
    • Worried about overcrowding and infrastructure
    • Those in favour likely to want affordable
    • Encouraging major high street retailers (54% agreeing)
      • Most contentious statement with highest no. disagreeing (36%)
      • Some groups more likely to agree – older people (72%), BME groups (71%) and social renters (71%)
      • Almost 1/3 of questionnaire respondents who commented, commented on this issue (which seemed to get to the heart of the key issues and concerns)
      • More off street parking (52%)
        • Least supported statement and a high percentage of don’t knows (21%)
        • Some groups more likely to agree – BME groups (67%), social renters (68%), older people (71%)
        • 30 additional questionnaire comments on this topic – very evenly split between those thinking the town centre needs parking to thrive and those thinking we need to promote more sustainable transport
        • Other – cycling (84%) agreeing with the statement, but…
          • More than 80 additional comments from questionnaire respondents, largely saying proposals had not gone far enough
          • Other – station (91%) agreeing with the statement, but…
            • 41 additional comments received about the tube and train in Brixton and most were concerned that the rail station included a high level platform so that London Overground trains can stop at Brixton

What changed

• 96 issues have led directly to amendments
• Major changes include:
  • Strengthening of the Economic Strategy, including commitment to work with partners to improve the management of the covered markets
  • Greater emphasis on the measures to support job creation
  • Greater emphasis on sustainable modes of transport – especially cycling
  • Commitment given to the production of a more detailed public realm and cycling strategy
  • Ongoing partnership working with Network Rail, to include looking at connecting Brixton station to the London Overground network.

Background

More than 1,500 people helped prepare the Brixton masterplan that was approved in 2009. Two priorities were identified – sustainability and enhancing the area’s unique heritage. The vision statement from the masterplan has also been retained. The masterplan does not provide planning guidance so we are developing a supplementary planning document (or SPD) which will provide detailed guidance for development in Brixton town centre. Between June and September 2012 we held a number of workshops, market stall events and online discussions with local people. What you told us has shaped the draft Brixton SPD and supporting documents. Visit the council’s website for more information on how we went about drafting the SPD or read the Consultation Statement that accompanied the draft Brixton SPD.

Whatever regeneration goes forward needs to keep the local character and local businesses - don’t make it just another clean and tidy town centre. Local resident

The draft SPD was taken to the Council’s Cabinet on 14 January 2013 and approved for consultation. You can view the Cabinet papers and notes here. The draft SPD suggests how the council and the community want Brixton town centre to grow and change. It responds to what you told us and will support the aims of the Future Brixton programme. It will help us to work with developers and outline the benefits we all want to see from investment. It identifies four key investment areas:

• Brixton Road
• SW2 Enterprise Centre
• Brixton Central
• Somerleyton Road

The consultation on the draft Brixton SPD closed on 15 March 2013 and we would like to thank everyone who has taken part. We will consider all comments made and publish our response in a consultation statement alongside a revised Brixton SPD later this year. We expect to adopt the SPD Summer 2013.