Lambeth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Lambeth Council and developer London Square have unveiled plans for two residential towers, 20 and 17 storeys high, along Brixton Station Road.
Pop Brixton, a well-known restaurant and bar with workplace units, may be demolished and rebuilt with a new workspace arrangement. Locals are being questioned about their opinions on the designs.
To assist achieve this, International House, a former council office that is now an affordable workspace, would be transformed into 80 new residences and have two more stories added on top.
Up until 2018, International House housed council offices; after that, it was abandoned. The building has been used as a temporary workspace for start-ups, creatives, charities, and social impact organizations since the council joined with the nonprofit space.
According to the Lambeth council, Pop Brixton was always intended to be a short-term use of the property, and the site’s recycled shipping containers are now nearing the end of their natural life.
The development could result in the construction of 280 new dwellings, 100 of which would be one-bedroom, 130 of which would be two-bedroom, and 50 of which would be three-bedroom.
Forty percent of the 280 homes would be “affordable,” with thirty percent being intermediate and seventy percent being social rent.
Along with 4,750 square meters of public realm enhancements, including additional seats and “rain gardens with informal playful elements,” the development also promises to provide retail and recreational space.
The highest structure in the plans is precisely the same height as the 20-story office tower that Texan millionaire DJ Taylor McWilliams’s real estate firm, Hondo, intended to construct in the center of Brixton.
Hondo said that project delays had made it difficult for the structure to be delivered, which led to the contentious tower which was fiercely opposed by townspeople and campaigners being abandoned in July 2023.
Although housing is included in these designs, it’s possible that locals will oppose the construction of a second 20-story skyscraper.
A planning application submission is anticipated later this year, with AND London spearheading the project’s community involvement.
How will transport and market access change during construction?
The development proposals include enhancements to walking and cycling routes around the site to ensure that safe, accessible travel routes are maintained during construction. Additionally, market infrastructure enhancements will ensure that Brixton Street Market traders will continue to have sufficient parking, storage, and waste facilities even as works are ongoing.
Construction phases will be planned and coordinated to avoid significant blockage of public roads or footpaths as much as possible.
Sustainable urban drainage and tree planting work is included within public realm enhancements, to add to the space’s environmental benefit during the project’s duration. The council and developer London Square are engaging with local residents and businesses to communicate any changes to access and help alleviate any impacts on daily travel and trading.