Lambeth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Two new towers—20 and 17 storeys are planned for Brixton Station Road, unveiled during public consultation on Pop Brixton and Canterbury Crescent site in Lambeth.
The plans, which are currently in Phase Two of community involvement, also call for a renovated 14-story residential block to take the place of the existing 12-story International House.
The scheme’s heights put it uncomfortably close to the failed Hondo Enormo-Tower, which was also planned to be 20 stories tall and collapsed in the same area of Brixton due to strong community resistance.
It’s crucial to remember that the Enormo-Tower’s projected business use, not the idea of housing, which is an important part of the new towers, was the main reason for the local opposition.
The designs are currently merely “testing the waters” rather than submitting a formal planning application, but given their size, a local competition for high-rises is all but guaranteed.
Both locations are listed as “suitable for tall buildings” in Lambeth‘s Local Plan, and the consultation papers cite “townscape and heritage analysis” conducted by the Council to support their inclusion.
Launched in 2015 as a temporary “meanwhile” area for start-ups, food stalls, and creative companies, the losing Pop Brixton was never intended to continue this long. It has survived through a number of lease extensions, although it has never given Lambeth Council the revenues that were anticipated.
Next door, International House, which has been used by the nonprofit 3Space since 2018, serves as a gathering place for charities, social impact organizations, and small businesses.
According to Lambeth, the structure is “reaching the end of its useful life” and “requires significant investment.”
The current plans would turn International House into residences while keeping its structural integrity and adding two more stories. About 80 apartments are planned here, while the Pop Brixton site will now house a new, purpose-built workspace.
The plan calls for 280 new dwellings on both sites, with “at least 40% affordable”—a reduction from the original Rec Quarter vision’s 50% affordability target.
The unit mix (100 one-bed, 130 two-bed, and 50 three-bed) indicates that this won’t be a family-focused development, despite the affordable housing split being 70% social rent and 30% intermediate.
Critics will point out that the concentration on smaller units and the decrease in affordability reflect a well-known high-density regeneration trend in London that favors investment apartments over long-term family residences.
How will the new high-rise towers impact Brixton’s community and local businesses?
The original Pop Brixton project has been highly successful in boosting the local economy, generating around £9 million annually and creating over 200 jobs, supporting local entrepreneurs and social enterprises.
The redevelopment aims to continue providing affordable workspace and commercial space, with a focus on supporting local businesses and creating new job opportunities for Brixton residents.
The project is designed to include market infrastructure improvements and public realm enhancements, which can enhance foot traffic and support local commerce.