Brixton Green

[story]

Couldn't see a thread about this yet.

http://brixtongreen.org/

So yet another new build right in the centre of Brixton.

Anyone know anything more about this proposed new development?

 

[editor]

Ooo-eerrr.

Proposals look good though.

 

[Crispy]

OK, so it's replacing the inudstrial units on Somerlyton Road with residential and community use. How well used are those units? If they're not being used, then this is a decent replacement.

 

[editor]

They're mainly poor quality buildings in a pretty awful state of repair, so anything's got to be an improvement on what's there at the moment.

 

[story]

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but there are so many new flats going up, do we have the schools and parking places and so forth to support the increased population?

Or are the new residents going to come from ripped down other places?

Or are they going to be incomers who use Brixton as a dormitory / stepping stone but don't actually contribute to the community?

Hopefully it will make a difference to Somerleyton Road, at least....

Is it a private development or what?

 

[newbie]

the first issue they identify is the foottunnel, and there's nothing mentioned about how it will be improved. I hope that doesn't mean it's days are numbered.

 

[HobgoblinMan]

Or are they going to be incomers who use Brixton as a dormitory / stepping stone but don't actually contribute to the community?

I didn't realise you had to pass some kind of character test to live in Brixton.

 

[editor]

the first issue they identify is the foottunnel, and there's nothing mentioned about how it will be improved. I hope that doesn't mean it's days are numbered.

It's well handy, but it's also the #1 escape route for muggers and ne'er do wells!

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I didn't realise you had to pass some kind of character test to live in Brixton.

Just as well in your case. You're a bad character if I ever saw one.

 

[HobgoblinMan]

Just as well in your case. You're a bad character if I ever saw one.

Oh so snipey aren't you. Pathetic.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Tense sense of humour bypass?

 

[HobgoblinMan]

Tense sense of humour bypass?

You know very well our senses of humour are a million billion miles apart.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Well, I do now.

 

[HobgoblinMan]

I hope they build some millionaires condominiums and call it "Thatcher Towers".

 

[Jonti]

the first issue they identify is the foottunnel, and there's nothing mentioned about how it will be improved. I hope that doesn't mean it's days are numbered.

I agree; pedestrian mobility shouldn't be compromised, even to shut the street robbers up in Somerleyton Estate.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Do you mean Moorlands? They got rid of the alleys about 8 or more years ago, but it was bad till then.

 

[newbie]

It's well handy, but it's also the #1 escape route for muggers and ne'er do wells!

tbf you could probably relieve a fair amount of central Brixton congestion by opening it up to light traffic.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Thing is, light traffic doesn't stay light traffic for long in my experience.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Just realised to what you were referring

 

[lang rabbie]

Has anyone heard anything more detailed since this last February:

Brixton Green Project to Bring Localisation to the Heart of Brixton

During the past 2 years we’ve worked very closely with Philippe Castaing of our sister organisation, Brixton Green. Philippe runs the fab Opus café and Upstairs restaurant in Acre Lane and has set up a Community Land Trust http://www.communitylandtrust.org.uk/ which will acquire property and land in Brixton.

Brixton Green is currently developing plans to create a blue print for green urban regeneration on Somerleyton Road. It will be a community-owned mix of housing, employment, health, education and urban food growing opportunities which will make low fossil fuel living so much easier. Philippe is one of the Sustainability Development Commission’s London Leaders 2008. They will also launch a “Community Investment Offer” where you will have the opportunity to buy a share of Brixton! The subscription will entitle you with equal voting rights independent of the value of your investment. Please watch TTB Email and website for information on how you can support this great initiative firstly by writing to the Council and then by taking out shares.

 

[OpalFruit]

Oval House Theatre is a partner and highlighted on the video as being on the corner of Coldharbour and Somerleyton.

If the housing is 'community owned' it can't be bought as a stepping stone, can it?

The sustainable policies sound good.

The walkway won't be closed, surely, it will be an essential route for the new school.

But most of that site is owned by Lambeth, and occupied by Evelyn Grace, at present.

 

[el-ahrairah]

I didn't realise you had to pass some kind of character test to live in Brixton.

Did you not take yours?

Fortunately we at u75 are the judges.

*hands over eviction notice*

 

[Crispy]

It would be nice if they could open up the railway arches at the corner of Marcus Garvey way for more permeability. Somerlyton road is dodgy precisely because it's a dead end. If the proposal can pull the public ownership of space through from Atlantic Road, it would feel like less of a no-go area.

It's a shame Chaucer road doesn't link through as well, but that would mean demolishing victorian terraces on Mayall road....

 

[Gramsci]

Has anyone heard anything more detailed since this last February:

The Brixton Masterplan covered a lot of the issues of green sustainable development. The idea being that whoever developed the site would follow the Brixton masterplan. The Council is in the process of putting the proposals in the agreed Masterplan into planning guidelines. These will be consulted on. The Council used architectural advice and sustainable development advice from Bioregional. This was co ordinated by Future Brixton set up by the Council.

Oval House Theatre have been looking at a site in Brixton. A possible site is on the corner of Somerleyton road and CHL. This is not an idea that originated from Brixton Green.

In Companies House there is a document where Brixton Green Community Land ltd is registered. I have got initial documents on company (paper copy but not on file) but not most recent. However it appears no new info has been filed.

It has 2 founding directors Castaing and one other.

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ca17994a9d0307ac5a3ea8ce75f17369/compdetails

Its a not for profit company. However the 2 directors are "founding directors" which gives them a lot of say in who becomes a Director later. I need to check details as I have not got them with me.

This is not a Coop structure but a "Social Enterprise". Profits dont go to shareholders but are put back into the enterprise. However Directors can be paid for there services and paid expenses. This isnt a voluntary group like Transition Town. Nor is it a Coop where each member holds a share and has a vote (one person one vote) on who becomes Chair, Secretary etc. Which posts are unpaid under Coop rules. This stops conflict of interest. The Coop can of course employ non Coop members to perform specific tasks.

Community Land Trusts -- The word Community is overused.Everyone from Cameron to Gordon Brown use it. Ive even see it in a job advert for Greggs (join our "family"). Nor am I clear what a CLT is in practise. Who has the say in how it is set up, what the internal democracy is, who gets paid and who does it on a voluntary basis, would there be conflicts of interest if some Directors are paid, what powers do Directors have, who becomes a Director.

Nor am I clear on who and how development ideas are agreed. Is this a rough plan that the "community" can have input into? Or will it be presented as a finished article. Will the two founding Directors decide the plan? Will others in the local community have a say?

 

[Gramsci]

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/632B1B17-D824-4C9B-9CB8-369F3B4C96C3/0/ySec5.pdf

Go to page 134 for details on Future Brixton Masterplan details on Somerleyton road area site proposals.

 

[Jonti]

...

In Companies House there is a document where Brixton Green Community Land ltd is registered. I have got initial documents on company (paper copy but not on file) but not most recent. However it appears no new info has been filed.

It has 2 founding directors Castaing and one other.

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ca17994a9d0307ac5a3ea8ce75f17369/compdetails

Its a not for profit company. However the 2 directors are "founding directors" which gives them a lot of say in who becomes a Director later. I need to check details as I have not got them with me.

This is not a Coop structure but a "Social Enterprise". Profits dont go to shareholders but are put back into the enterprise. However Directors can be paid for there services and paid expenses...

Community Land Trusts -- The word Community is overused.Everyone from Cameron to Gordon Brown use it. Ive even see it in a job advert for Greggs (join our "family"). Nor am I clear what a CLT is in practise. Who has the say in how it is set up, what the internal democracy is, who gets paid and who does it on a voluntary basis, would there be conflicts of interest if some Directors are paid, what powers do Directors have, who becomes a Director.

Nor am I clear on who and how development ideas are agreed. Is this a rough plan that the "community" can have input into? Or will it be presented as a finished article. Will the two founding Directors decide the plan? Will others in the local community have a say?

(somewhat abridged for this quote)

To my mind, a Community Land Trust is a very good vehicle for easing privately held land into social use. If one is thinking of letting go of a few acres from the family estate for the benefit of the local peasants, the entrenched position of the founder directors makes a lot of sense.

However, that's not the position here: the land is *not* being supplied by the founder directors. They are asking for it to be transferred to their control, from public ownership. It seems to me this would effectively transfer the public land into a kind of quasi-private ownership, to the immense benefit of the founder directors.

 

[Fenian]

Very good point jonti, in other words a vehicle - for so-called 'community' purposes - to transfer what is publicly owned land to the control of which ever wide boys take an interest, who will of course feel free to award themselves 'fees', 'expenses' etc.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Somerlyton road is dodgy precisely because it's a dead end.

Eh? No it isn't, Somerleyton Road becomes Loughborough Park at the end...it's a right angle, not a dead end....got to say this thread contains more than one myth about where I live
It's also got immeasurably less dodgy over the last decade. I do wonder when the last time was that some peeps last walked around there.

 

[Ms T]

Eh? No it isn't, Somerleyton Road becomes Loughborough Park at the end...it's a right angle, not a dead end....got to say this thread contains more than one myth about where I live
It's also got immeasurably less dodgy over the last decade. I do wonder when the last time was that some peeps last walked around there.

One week in Mayall Rd and Crispy becomes an expert.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

...and I love Somerleyton Passage....saves a very long walk when visiting good friends

by the way...when you go under a railway bridge round here you're meant to say "Feat of London" and cross your fingers...all of my kids did, and their mates too...it may be feet rather than feat, but those viaducts are a feat and no kid I knew could spell it for me to satisfy the pedant in me......