£22million regeneration bid for Brixton
01 June 2006
Lambeth Council’s plans to secure £22million to transform the centre of Brixton will take a step forward next week when the Big Lottery Fund’s (BLF) Living Landmarks team pays a visit.
The visitors will be in the area on Friday, June 2, and Monday, June 5, to assess the viability of the scheme, which would see improvements to the town centre to make it safer, more accessible and more attractive to visit.
The council will try to persuade the BLF of the merits of a £250,000 Living Landmarks grant to fund a detailed study into how the work could be carried out. A decision on whether the regeneration would go ahead would be expected in September 2007.
As well as a tour of the town centre, the team will also be given presentations by Lambeth chief executive Derrick Anderson and Councillor Paul McGlone, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise.
The council’s plans, which have focused on the wishes of the community, would confirm Brixton Market’s position at the heart of the town centre by bringing it into the 21st Century. They would improve the street market and make the whole market a safer and more attractive place to visit at the same time as preserving its unique character.
There would be a renovation of Electric Avenue that would involve improving street furniture and shop fronts and making it more accessible for pedestrians. There would also be improvements to the Popes Road area.
On top of the physical improvements, the study would look at ways of ensuring the long term economic development of Brixton.
Cllr McGlone said: “Brixton is an historic area with a unique atmosphere, and it is important that we preserve this for future generations.
“Brixton Market and Electric Avenue are two of the things that make the area so special, and this is why we have put them at the heart of this bid, which would bring them into the 21st Century.
“Sometimes regeneration can involve taking away from the history of an area, but the great thing about this bid is that it would actually enhance and protect Brixton’s rich history.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the assessors to Brixton, and we are confident we will be able to show them that the development grant would be money well spent.
“Together with the regeneration the council is already planning in Brixton, this grant would make a real difference to the lives of residents here.
“We are confident we can make a strong case that the money would not just improve the Brixton’s visual appeal, but would also help tackle the deprivation that exists, which is a big part of our commitment against inequality in the borough.”
There is strong community and partnership support for the bid. This includes our statutory partners in TfL, Network Rail/Spacia and the Met Police, as well as local market traders, businesses, Brixton Area Forum, Brixton Society and Black Cultural Archives. Everyone involved is keen to build on Brixton’s historic future.
