Future Brixton


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Somerleyton Road stakeholder event and Christmas social

We’re inviting individuals and organisations who would like to get more involved in the Somerleyton Road project to join us for our Stakeholder Meeting and Christmas Social.

Please join Cllr Pete Robbins, Brixton Green and Ovalhouse on Wednesday 18 December, 6.30 to 8.30pm at No. 6 Somerleyton Road.

Over the past year many of you have joined us at workshops and events to shape the plans for Somerleyton Road. You’ve established priorities for the development and given us great ideas, including ideas about how a community stakeholder group can operate to stay involved with the project and feed back to local people.

At this meeting, based on your feedback, we’ll present a plan for the stakeholder group for discussion. We’ll also take this opportunity to update you on the financial model and work programme for next year.

There’ll be food and refreshments and a chance to socialise at the end of the meeting. We’re at a vital and exciting stage in the project, and hope as many of you can join us as possible.

Please RSVP by noon Tuesday 17 December to [email protected]

South Kilburn Studios


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Meanwhile at the ice rink update

On Wednesday 6 November, over 35 people came to the Town Hall to discuss how the site could be used temporarily, while its longer-term future is identified.

The temporary ice rink closed on 18 November 2013 when the new Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre opened. By January or February next year, the ice rink structure will have been dismantled and we’ll be left with a cleared site. We aim to plan for the longer-term use of the site with local people during the spring and summer of 2014 and for new development to get going late in 2015.

This will leave around 1 to 1 ½ years when the site would be clear for what are called ‘meanwhile’ activities.

We’ve identified £40k to help make our ideas for meanwhile activities a reality. While this sounds a lot, it is highly likely that whatever happens will also need to create an income stream to support on-going costs.

You can read more about the discussion that took place on 6 November here.


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Help us decide how to choose our design team

A procurement workshop for the Somerleyton Road project will take place on Thursday 28 November at at St Vincent’s Community Centre, Talma Road SW2 1AS from 6.30pm to 8.30pm (drop in) Instead of handing over the site to a developer, Somerleyton Road will be developed in a new way. We will appoint a design team and a development manager to work with the steering group and the community to develop the site. This drop-in event will give people the opportunity to see what we expect the design team to do and will help choose the questions for those who want to bid for the contract. An initial advert is expected to go out for the contract on 21 November and we will expect to receive bids at the beginning of February 2014. Find more information about Somerleyton Road here.


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Somerleyton Road Community Briefing

On Monday 4 November the council’s Cabinet will decide the next steps for the project. Local people have told us clearly what they need – homes they can afford, jobs and training, and a chance to build a community. We have an exciting opportunity to do things differently – involving local people in how we achieve these things.

The report proposes that the council acts as its own developer for the site, employing specialists to manage the design and build.

This means more control of what we build and the proposal is for most of the new homes to be for rent, aiming for at least 40% at council rent.

It also means the council keeps ownership of the land, the new homes and the commercial buildings, but will work with Brixton Green to look at options for a community development trust and/or cooperative(s) to own or manage these.

See the papers for the Cabinet meeting here


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Learning from a great neighbourhood

Over 50 people met yesterday for a series of talks and fascinating walks around Brixton led by the people who love it. The event was curated by Anchor and Magnet and co-hosted by the council and the Academy of Urbanism, which awarded Brixton the title of Great Neighbourhood 2013. Local residents, members of the Academy and the council came together to learn from each other about what makes Brixton great and to share ideas about how to protect these things at a time of rapid change.

The Council’s Chief Executive, Derrick Anderson, shared his experiences of living in Brixton and Camila Ween outlined why the Academy had thought it was such a great neighbourhood.

Looking to the future, the council reviewed how the town centre is changing and what it can do to guide change so that it improves the town centre and provides opportunities for people living and working here. Residents shared their hopes and concerns that there will be genuine benefits for all given the challenges many local residents and businesses already face in the current economic climate.

Following the walks we had an important discussion, facilitated by local councillor, Rachel Heywood, and Bob Young from the Academy. We talked about the need for better homes and work spaces that people can afford. We discussed that communities needed better open spaces and local access to health, leisure and education facilities where Brixton’s amazing people can continue to meet and mix and develop a sense of common belonging and of community.

Importantly people agreed we needed everyone to have a voice in shaping the future of Brixton. Thank you to everyone who came yesterday and thank you for your contributions. They are much appreciated.

A report of the event will be available later next month along with details of future plans.

Brixton Street Design workshop, 15 October 2013


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Good turnout for first Street Design workshop

Around 20 people turned out for the first Brixton street design workshop last night, including local businesses, residents and ward councillors. The event was held to discuss how to improve the town’s public realm. Consultants, Shape, and their engineers, Civic, were on hand to guide the discussion, which focused on nine key areas identified in the Brixton Supplementary Planning Document. These are Atlantic Road, Pope’s Road/Brixton Station Road, Coldharbour Lane, Electric Avenue, the area in front of Brixton Police Station, St Matthew’s Peace Garden, Acre Lane east, Brighton Terrace and Somerleyton Passage/Somerleyton Road.

Those who attended were involved in a lively discussion about the competing pressures in Brixton around walking, cycling, public transport and motor vehicles. The importance of the market was also clearly identified, along with the need for more seating, planting and activity on some of the quieter streets. In addition to the areas identified in the Brixton SPD, which are all in the Council’s control, participants felt it was very important to address issues with Brixton Road. The Council will continue discussions with Transport for London, who control this road, about how to improve pedestrian flow and cycle safety along and across it.

Initial proposals will now be worked up ahead of a second workshop before Christmas. Sign up to the Future Brixton mailing list by emailing [email protected] if you want to receive the invite.

More about the Public Realm Strategy for Brixton here.

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Extra time to have your say on Your New Town Hall

Cllr Paul McGlone: “Your New Town Hall is a great deal for taxpayers and businesses, saving Lambeth £4.5 million a year in running costs by cutting the number of council offices in Lambeth from 14 to 2 and giving residents and local businesses access to office and community space for the first time. The project will pay for itself and will deliver desperately needed new homes and new jobs for local people.

“Now that the three developer’s proposals are available online we want to hear what our residents and local businesses think before we make a final decision in November and we’ve extended the deadline to Thursday 17th October to make sure everyone has the chance to have their say.

“Once the council has selected a developer in November there will be further opportunities for residents to have their say about the design of this exciting development in Brixton.”

Have your say here

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