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Brixton Market redevelopment?

doh :oops::oops::oops::oops:


I seem to be fucking up everything I touch at the moment.

If you have a chance give me a call - I've got some campaign ideas that might help.

If anyone wants to start emailing their councillors then go to:
writetothem.com and put in your postcode and you can email them directly from the site.

For the record the planning committee members are:
# Councillor Toren Smith (Chair) - Labour
# Councillor Diana Morris (Vice-Chair) - Labour
# Councillor Andrew Gibson - Labour
# Councillor Julian Heather Lib Dem
# Councillor David Malley - Labour
# Councillor Brian Palmer - Lib Dem
# Councillor Neil Sabharwal - Labour

Substitute members are:
# Councillor Adedamola Aminu - Labour
# Councillor June Fewtrell - Lib Dem
# Councillor Ruth Ling - Labour
# Councillor Andrew Sawdon - Lib Dem - Oval ward

Further details here.
 
Was there this morning.

Their PR people are a bunch of amateurs who are no doubt making things worse for the developer.
I'm not surprised that Jim Dickson is a director there.

Typical.

See my post 25 above, before anyone else posts anything too defamatory about Jim, much as I might enjoy reading it.
 
Well I went to have a look.Without having a go I did ask the guy from LAP and architect a few questions.The pretty girl from the PR company unfortunately had to go:( as I was all up for asking her a few questions).

Well according to the architect they are going to keep the glass roof and the metal struts.These they have looked at and are in good shape.So the layout will be roughly the same.They is proposed an alleyway between the market and the Laundry leading to the new proposed Exchange sq.The now units there will face outwards onto the new alleyway.There will be a couple of larger units but most units will stay the same.The retail will be on the ground floor only with flats above.

The flats above are proposed to have "green roofs".They will be high compered to the rest of Brixton skyline.They said they needed the flats to subsidise the market development.They did admit in the present climate thus scheme was no go.The front of the new development looks bland to me.Not exciting modern architecture.

What was interesting was how the architects plans fitted in with the, as yet to be published, Future Brixton masterplan.They did say they have been talking to Future Brixton officers (including the top one who i wont name).They issue of sustainability is addressed.The high density housing is in line with Councils proposals and mixed use of site is as well.

They also said the drains /infrastructure need modernising.Which is probably correct as our drains dont work that well.The rats can come up them.
 
and their questionnaire is utterly lame, i'm not going to submit one and just write to my councillor instead.

You could ask your Councillor why the Future Brixton masterplan is not yet published for public viewing and consultation.

What disturbed me about the plans is that LAP and senior officers in Future Brixton are talking about big developments in Brixton on the basis of the (unpublished and not agreed by cabinet) masterplan.It seems residents are coming last in line on consultation on this.

Also it might be worth asking your Councillor what Future Brixton are up to and whether they have Councillor approval for talking to developers like LAP.

I have obtained a copy of the FB final draft of masterplan so I know what Im talking about.

Im on the FB email list and I have had nothing on this.

What concerns is that LAP are looking to put in an application that the present Labour administration can support through secret talks with trusted seniot officers.
 
LAP are promising to rehouse the traders temporarily whilst building works go on and give them a right to return.This should be written into any planning approval.

LAP say they will keep leases at same level until they expire.So I assume that means they can go up afterwards.I dont now whether LBL can put in rent controls in any planning approval (Do u know Lang Rabbie?).

I dont think so.Tried to talk to the friends of BM but was waylaid explaining how market rents and capitalism worked to one of our more thick residents.Seems that LAP wont put up rents because they "Wont do that":rolleyes:. They would if they could and could get people to pay it.
 
Yup. A certain Jim Dickson is their "Director, Politics" - although AFAIK he (and party hacks of various other political pursuasions working for Four) are fairly scrupulous in maintaining a "Chinese Wall" from any work they do for clients of the property team with planning applications in Lambeth.

I think it will take a lot more than Four's Machiavellian PR tactics for Brixton folk to ever learn to love the new owners of the covered markets' plans for redevelopment.

Thanks I know the building in Leicester sq. Im sure they have Chinese wall.But all these people know each other.New Labour / PR / business all seem linked. The Proles come last.
 
LAP are promising to rehouse the traders temporarily whilst building works go on and give them a right to return.This should be written into any planning approval.

LAP say they will keep leases at same level until they expire.So I assume that means they can go up afterwards.I dont now whether LBL can put in rent controls in any planning approval (Do u know Lang Rabbie?).

I dont think so.Tried to talk to the friends of BM but was waylaid explaining how market rents and capitalism worked to one of our more thick residents.Seems that LAP wont put up rents because they "Wont do that":rolleyes:. They would if they could and could get people to pay it.

The guy from LAP told me that rents would stay at the same level "until we rent all the units".
 
For the record Im not against new developments if they are of high quality and meet social criteria.

Seems to me the economic arguments for saving the market are weak under our wonderful capitalist "free market".

social housing (thats cheap see other threads on this), reasonably priced retail units and art spaces (as other poster points out) are whats needed.
 
Thanks for that Opal Fruit.Reading the "interim" report seems like the collapse in land values and the consultants dealing with this going bust has delayed the Masterplan.

Interesting that now the land values have changed the report says that public bodies rather than private business may play a more important role.
 
SLP is reporting today that the plans have been dropped and they'll invest in the existing market :)
 
SLP is reporting today that the plans have been dropped and they'll invest in the existing market :)

Who? LAP? :confused:

Without any strings?

Sorry, want to be pleased but if you're talking about LAP I can't see them doing anything without it having strings attached.
 
Who? LAP? :confused:

Without any strings?

Sorry, want to be pleased but if you're talking about LAP I can't see them doing anything without it having strings attached.

yes I agree, but that's what it says. Doesn't seem to be online yet but I guess it will be in the next day or so.
 
A curious press release came out of the town hall today...

Lambeth backs bid to get iconic market listed
13 March 2009

Lambeth Council has thrown its weight behind a bid to get Granville Arcade - the main part of Brixton's historic covered markets - listed. Councillors will join local MPs, market traders and residents at the market tomorrow (Saturday March 14) at 1pm in support of calls to give the market listed status. They will meet at the Coldharbour Lane entrance to Granville Arcade SW9.

There had been concerns recently that the market could be demolished by developers, and listed status could protect the market from this.

But surely those concerns were only possible because our Nu-Labour council had authorised the earlier Future Brixton planning documents that recommended demolishing Granville Arcade to build housing on top!

Granville Arcade has been at the heart of Brixton Market for more than 80 years and the market shops represent a number of Lambeth’s diverse communities. Current traders include a Rastafarian café, Portuguese and Afghanistan butchers, traditional fishmongers and Columbian restaurants.

It is also half empty, which is a major challenge to everyone. Whatever gripes I share about the new property owners and their attempts to hike the traders' rents, the aisles of Granville Arcade furthest from Atlantic Road have been slowly dying for years...

Councillor Rachel Heywood, cabinet member for culture and communities says: "Brixton Market is an iconic symbol of Lambeth's history and Granville Arcade (also known as Brixton Village) is the jewel in the market's crown. It has a great social, historic, and cultural significance - particularly for the Windrush generation and the African Caribbean community.

When I hear the word "iconic", I reach for my revolver...

"The shops and businesses trading from the arcade today represent Lambeth’s diverse communities and are a living example of the integration of new communities into society through economic and social opportunities. The unique cultural significance of Granville Arcade deserves to be recognised and its future preserved for future generations."
ENDS

Note to editors:

A draft masterplan has been developed for Brixton following extensive consultation with local people. It aims to guide development in the town centre, and has two core themes - sustainability and the retention of Brixton's distinctive character, including the cultural heritage and unique niche of the indoor markets
 
Yeee-hi!
Traders win battle to save Brixton Market

PLANS to demolish one of London's most famous markets have been shelved after opposition from traders and residents.

Brixton Market was set to undergo a huge redevelopment by London Associated Properties.

The developer has now announced that it intends to save the market because of concerns over the future of its traders.

In a victory for the Standard's Save Our Small Shops campaign, the historic market, which has been running since the 1870s, now looks to be safe in the short-term at least.

Campaigners have welcomed the turnaround but said they are still working to make demolition impossible by getting the site listed.

Campaigners had feared that the developer, which has faced outcry over its plans to redevelop the Antiquarius market in the King's Road, intended to turn Brixton's covered market into a West End-style shopping precinct.

A spokesman for the developer said it would not pursue its mixed development, residential-led scheme any further.

He said the decision has been taken in light of the dramatic downturn in the residential sales market and said that the business intended to invest money into the market to improve its retail environment and safeguard the future of the 140 traders who work there.

John Heller, chief executive officer of LAP, said: "We have always recognised the important contribution that the markets have made to the cultural identity of Brixton and remain committed to ensuring that they will continue to provide a strong offer to local shoppers and tourists alike for the foreseeable future."

Alex Holland, chairman of the Friends of Brixton Market, said: "We see the apparent change of heart as a victory for Brixton's residents and traders, but we also recognise LAP can resubmit an application to demolish the market at any point in the future.

"This is why we urge the Government to list the market to make it impossible for any developer to demolish it and the diverse community it represents."
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/stand...+win+battle+to+save+Brixton+Market/article.do
 
I think the place needs a rethink, a relaunch, the idea of loads of little business' in there is great, but ldn markets are fickle and it needs a bit of theme to get it going again, bland as that might sound. I think alot of the business' are there coz it's cheap, but if there's no-one there :(

I'll try and post up my '98 audio doc of the place, it's a mad mix of the place.
 
I wonder how the rents in the Granville Arcade compare with normal retail space?

Perhaps it would help if they sorted out the ventilation in there. Some of the stalls are a bit whiffy. I wouldn't want to set up shop if I was going to be breathing in fish stink all day.
 
A curious press release came out of the town hall today...



But surely those concerns were only possible because our Nu-Labour council had authorised the earlier Future Brixton planning documents that recommended demolishing Granville Arcade to build housing on top!



It is also half empty, which is a major challenge to everyone. Whatever gripes I share about the new property owners and their attempts to hike the traders' rents, the aisles of Granville Arcade furthest from Atlantic Road have been slowly dying for years...

.

That's phenomenal chutzpah. I'm impressed. Presumably the Friends of Brixton Market are too pleased to get support from the council to complain. :rolleyes:
 
The arcades have been run down by whoever's in charge of them for years. Back in the day, when British Rail wanted to shut down a station, they'd make a return journey from it impractical, wait a year or two, then show everyone how few passengers they were carrying. The market, it seems to me, has been managed in the same way.

I've lived here for long enough to witness the death of Station Road market, the decline of Electric Avenue, and now this?

Anyone with a commercial head on their shoulders and a bit of cash behind them could make a go of the arcades by allowing them to open later, doing a bit of high-quality refurbishment, and with a well implemented system of preferential rents, ie charge loads to Starbucks and their ilk and charge less to local, specialised businesses (organic pizza place, fishmongers) in a fixed ratio. That way you get the chain store crowd, and the "discerning" shopper.

The way Marylebone High St has been managed may not be to everyone's taste, but the reason it's not an identikit shopping street and still has small-turnover speciality shops is that it's been managed on these lines for years. Not that we'd see the arcades turning into a rival for W1 in a hurry...
 
I had a clothing shop in Granville Arcade for about three years, but there was never really enough business to make it worthwhile. I expanded into the next unit, hit the VAT threshold, realise all my profit was going to the VAT man and gave up and went to Camden.

Also tried a cafe, but the opening hours made it impossible to make money.

Market management were amiable enough, but DJwrongspeed is right, it does need a theme and probably a rent free period to entice people down there.
 
Strangely enough, the proposed Overground station (that would probably have ended up being paid for by the redevelopment) would have been an ideal magnet for the market. If you had to walk past/through the market to get to the station, passing trade and familiarity would rocket.
 
When that bit of Camden market burnt down, I remember thinking that I'd have been straight on the phone, offering free pitches.

Brixton arcades are such an under-appreciated cracker of a place, the lack of nous, or deliberate running-down, pisses me off a treat.
 
It isn't that easy to make money in Brixton. Shoplifting is a major problem (lots of addicts come to steal) and there doesn't see to be much money being spent (unless you are a hairdresser or a chicken shop). So it might need some lateral thinking to come up with a way of getting Granville Arcade going again.
 
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