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Say hello to Barratt Homes' 'Brixton Square' on Coldharbour Lane (old Cooltan site)

teuchter said:
What a lot of nonsense. You are trying to make out this is what is happening - whilst you repeatedly avoid answering straightforward questions and consistently demonstrate that you don't even bother to read others' posts properly.
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Can you just give it a rest, please? Thanks.
 
shifting gears said:
I had to quote this, as this really is a major and increasingly commonplace issue, and one I find myself discussing with other locals on a regular basis nowadays.

The long and the short of it is we're fucked. Those of us on lower incomes, who have lived in the area for many years (approaching 10 in my own case), face the imminent prospect of having to relocate. And Brixton is my home, my stomping ground, call it what you will. I love it here. And frankly, I don't want to live anywhere else, and it deeply fucking troubles me that I'm eventually going to be uprooted, and have to start again. Hence why, I have to say, these petty squabbles such as 'what constitutes a gated community?' piss me right off - I mean the Barrier Block, for fucks sake? Jesus Christ. It's an ominous (no offence to anyone that lives there - and personally I'd kill for a flat there!) building that the the influx of moneyed 'professionals' wouldn't set foot in if you paid them. It seems a safe bet that the Brixton Square Henry's won't be making much of an effort to get to know the older Caribbean set who perenially hang around outside the BB either. Though maybe Bim of Bar will prove me wrong. But I doubt it as he sounds a right plum.
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Do you think the fact that there will be controlled access to the Brixton Square courtyard is an issue that's relevant to the discussion about the changes we are all seeing in Brixton at the moment?

Or is griping about it being a "gated community" a lazy way of trying to portray that particular development as something it isn't, to make its future residents an easier target to caricature and hate upon, in place of talking about stuff that's actually much more important like whether or not the developers succeed in reducing the affordable housing provision?
 
teuchter said:
Do you think the fact that there will be controlled access to the Brixton Square courtyard is an issue that's relevant to the discussion about the changes we are all seeing in Brixton at the moment?

Or is griping about it being a "gated community" a lazy way of trying to portray that particular development as something it isn't, to make its future residents an easier target to caricature and hate upon, in place of talking about stuff that's actually much more important like whether or not the developers succeed in reducing the affordable housing provision?
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1/ yes, I fucking do, and frankly if you can't see why a gated community being erected in one of the poorest parts of Brixton presents an issue then I'm not sure there's any point discussing it further with you.

2/ no, it isn't. That development in many ways characterises exactly what the problems faced by longterm Brixton residents and victims of Lambeth council's policies are: the issue regarding Barrett's own disgraceful u-turns and slipperiness are a separate issue.
 
shifting gears said:
1/ yes, I fucking do, and frankly if you can't see why a gated community being erected in one of the poorest parts of Brixton presents an issue then I'm not sure there's any point discussing it further with you.
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So, like the editor, you refuse to discuss why it is you think that the reasons it's appropriate to have controlled access to the barrier block communal areas don't also apply to the Brixton Square communal areas. Or maybe you don't think it's appropriate to have controlled access to communal areas in the barrier block or any other building in general? Oh well, I guess we'll never know.
 
TruXta said:
Tell you what, as part of a very well remunerated household compared to most people (and by that I don't mean rich as in Bentleys and caviar, but probably in the upper tenth decile), we're nowhere near being able to afford more than a 1 bed flat here, and even that would be a stretch. If we can't afford it as Yuppie Dinks, then it's fairly obvious what kinda people can afford to move in and who has to move out. We came 6 years ago and loved the place to bits, but the last 12-18 months something has changed. Prices have gone massively up of course, but the faces I see on the street are not the faces that were there 2-3, not to say 5-6 years ago. And those new faces simply aren't as nice or as interesting as the ones that were there before.

Anyway, by the looks of things we're off to some hellhole called Anerley.
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i'd shit on a bus for a house in anerley.

anerley, penge, catford, etc are still very much in the heart of the things - mere bus journey's away from good things. it's when you get out to places like orpington, sutton, etc when suicidal thoughts might slowly creep in.
 
MillwallShoes said:
i'd shit on a bus for a house in anerley.

anerley, penge, catford, etc are still very much in the heart of the things - mere bus journey's away from good things. it's when you get out to places like orpington, sutton, etc when suicidal thoughts might slowly creep in.
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"If it's a choice between Richmond and death, give me death"
 
Yeah. I grew up in Bexleyheath. Sydenham (where we've recently moved cos it was much cheaper than herne hill, where we were) is nothing like that kind of suburban slow death.

I've never been able to afford Brixton though. It's always (at least the last 15 yrs or so) been more expensive than most of the locality.
 
editor said:
I'm not a fan of that yellowy brick.
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I like London yellow stocks but don't think they go with red brick and whoever mixed the ones in the photo made an appalling job.

I know I bang on about this but a large number of short life people have been thrown out of their communities,Clifton,Villa rd,St Agnes,Gypsy hill and so on.Most have been rehoused all over Lambeth.I lucked out an got rehoused in a co-op on the SouthBank which is all very nice but it isn't Brixton.The only time I see the people who I'd been communards with for over thirty years is on the off chance when shopping in Brixton.It's been going on for about fifteen years and now is the end only a handful are still clinging on.I was complaining about this shit 25 years ago (I worked in the building trade quite often on the houses being bought by those affluent enough to buy so know a bit about young professionals).I know it's pitiful but I'd very much like the old Brixton back.
 
nipsla said:
That's interesting. Maybe I'm having a brain freeze, but I'm pretty sure we didn't have to apply to speak when I spoke against the ice rink. Gramsci might remember better as he spoke at the same meeting.
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I got a letter as well. My internet connection is down. So have a problem keeping up with this.

I want to put myself down to speak. Is that ok with everyone?

I talked to Zoe Brixton Blog on phone last night about it.

I think its important to see this to the end.

Can Brixton Buzz cover this as well? As BZ always covered original article

editor
 
peterkro said:
I like London yellow stocks but don't think they go with red brick and whoever mixed the ones in the photo made an appalling job.
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I think the whole development looks more like bland office blocks than residential blocks. Between that and the adjacent Viaduct, that stretch of Coldharbour Lane is going to look very soulless indeed.
 
Gramsci said:
I got a letter as well. My internet connection is down. So have a problem keeping up with this.

I want to put myself down to speak. Is that ok with everyone?

I talked to Zoe Brixton Blog on phone last night about it.

I think its important to see this to the end.

Can Brixton Buzz cover this as well? As BZ always covered original article

editor
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Can someone write up a précis of the story? I'd be happy to post it on BB.
 
MillwallShoes said:
just a point on the "soaring house prices mean soaring social housing rent increases" - now this is a genuine question, and i am not stirring up anything, but if that was the case, how about all the estates in chelsea, W1, westminster, etc - are they also on prices that are high due to their proximity to very value property? genuine question! i thought the price of paying rent for a council place is pretty stable, no? could be wrong.
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The government has changed policy on social housing. UR talking about social rent. The government has given Councils option ( they do not have to do it) of charging new "affordable rent" of up to 80% of the market rent for the area. So as market rent in area increases so can the "affordable rent".
 
MillwallShoes said:
i'd shit on a bus for a house in anerley.

anerley, penge, catford, etc are still very much in the heart of the things - mere bus journey's away from good things. it's when you get out to places like orpington, sutton, etc when suicidal thoughts might slowly creep in.
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As I recall, Anerley has some lovely Victorian architecture and some really interesting history. Wouldn't particularly want to live there, mind, but I'd take it over Croydon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anerley
 
editor said:
Can someone write up a précis of the story? I'd be happy to post it on BB.
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I think the original piece on it is worth putting up again with addition that its going to committee.

Zoe is away but says she will get someone from Brixton Blog to go.

I will email my local Cllr (Matt Parr) as he took an interest in this.

It would be good if those who oppose Barratts watering down of the affordable housing element turned up at the committee meeting. Speakers are limited to 3 on one topic. But a good audience will show that this is something local people are concerned about.
 
editor said:
Do you really think a well established squat that incidentally happened to have a gate attached (that was usually open) isn't any different at all to an upmarket gated development full of hugely expensive flats that most locals could only dream of affording? That squat was home to a diverse community that played an active part in shaping the Brixton that many people recognise. The Brixton I loved.
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Incidentally gated community.
:facepalm::D


I've given my opinion. I don't care if you think it's right or wrong. Perhaps it's laden with those inconsistencies and hypocrisies you're so keen to unearth, but there you go. I'm human, I have opinions and I'm passionate about some things - and that passion doesn't always translate into the cold unyielding logic you and a few others crave.
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Being passionate, or even just fearing change, does not excuse broadly characterising, vilifying and labelling every new person moving into Brixton in the lazy and divisive way that you do. There will be both socially conscious and unconscious people moving in, just are both exist here already. You know better than anyone how the the boards work and you should expect to be picked up on it by those who take issue with what you say. Perhaps being Editor makes you a little more conspicuous than others, but being so generous with your criticism and then playing the "why does everybody pick on me" card seems awfully naive.
 
Rushy said:
Being passionate, or even just fearing change, does not excuse broadly characterising, vilifying and labelling every new person moving into Brixton in the lazy and divisive way that you do.
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That's a bit rich coming from you, after your nonsense about "exclusive barricaded residents" but feel free to back up this latest pile of bullshit you've just posted with some actual examples of me "vilifying every new person moving into Brixton" from this thread. Can you do that?

Christ this is tedious.
 
Gramsci said:
I think the original piece on it is worth putting up again with addition that its going to committee.
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If you have a few moments, can you mail it to me? I'm trying to do about ten things right now, but I want to post up about it because it's important, but I want to get it right!
 
editor said:
That's a bit rich coming from you, after your nonsense about "exclusive barricaded residents" but feel free to back up this latest pile of bullshit you've just posted with some actual examples of me "vilifying every new person moving into Brixton" from this thread. Can you do that?
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Oh dear, Ed. How has
Private Estate with exclusive barricaded residents only parking
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suddenly managed to become "exclusive barricaded residents" in your hands?

Surely you know better than to use yet another misquote in order to try to discredit someone. Particularly when you are surely aware that the original original quote was a piss-take of your inflammatory posting style.

I have no doubt that you could carry on twisting all day and then trying to assert your superiority by finishing each and every post with yet another expression of boredom. So you win. You have worn me out.

.
 
Rushy said:
Oh dear, Ed. How has
suddenly managed to become "exclusive barricaded residents" in your hands?

Surely you know better than to use yet another misquote in order to try to discredit someone. Particularly when you are surely aware that the original original quote was a piss-take of your inflammatory posting style.
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To be honest, I'm increasingly having trouble separating fact from fiction and pisstake from reality with your posts recently, but the quote is indeed accurate, as well you know.
Rushy said:
If Somerleyton Heights wasn't so damned exclusive no one would have to park in the illegal place. Whilst you all sit in pretty in your Private Estate with exclusive barricaded residents only parking the rest of us are being exploited on the streets.
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Now have you found any examples of me "vilifying every new person moving into Brixton" in this thread, or would you like to apologise for making up such stupid rubbish?
 
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