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

[JAC2013]

Having just seen this thread I’d just like to add a quick response that not all (indeed I’m hoping no others) moving into this development have the same views/relationship building skills as Bim. Nothing personal Bim but your approach has done nothing but antagonise everybody in what is already a fraught situation following Lambeth’s/Barratts approach. This is ultimately blo*dy frustrating as it’s the opposite approach to mine

For clarity I move into this development in the next couple of weeks having rented and lived in SW2, SW4 and SW9 over the past several years whilst I’ve tried to pull together a deposit. Having met a few others who have purchased a property here, I have to comment that the perception that it’s all buy to let/those that are wealthy is all a bit misleading. The majority I personally have spoken are either first time who have rented in the area for a number of years, or are simply relocating from an existing property in the area. The underlying factor for doing this seems to be that everyone has enjoyed being part of Brixton and its community and thus want to make it a more permanent arrangement rather than getting shafted every 12 months by rental increases and having to move yet again.

Therefore to all the other Brixton folk out there, a kind request not to treat all new residents as if they are Bim, and as I have been doing for several years, I will continue enjoy the great array that Brixton has to offer. Hopefully within a short time everyone will see that in reality the majority of the new residents are just existing folk who lived and supported the area.

Whilst I greatly sympathise and agree with the wider affordable issues, and as some have actually stated, the blame for this shouldn’t fall on the new residents.

Thanks for reading.

 

[editor]

No, I know you're not. Just that from earlier posts some seem to insist that they must care.

The thing that does worry me slightly is that given that these flats have mainly been bought by Buy To Let landlords, we're likely to get a lot of people moving here for the short term and using it as a handy place to commute to the city, and I wonder if their transient nature means they'd be less likely to get involved in grassroots community affairs and campaigns?

Note the question mark there - I'm just thinking aloud here rather than offering any considered analysis!

 

[editor]

Therefore to all the other Brixton folk out there, a kind request not to treat all new residents as if they are Bim, and as I have been doing for several years, I will continue enjoy the great array that Brixton has to offer. Hopefully within a short time everyone will see that in reality the majority of the new residents are just existing folk who lived and supported the area.

I'm not entirely sure what the demographics of the new residents will be, but there was certainly a big focus on catering for Buy To Let investors at their marketing day.

I'm not going to criticise anyone just for living their either. Well, not unless they act like Bim.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

The thing that does worry me slightly is that given that these flats have mainly been bought by Buy To Let landlords, we're likely to get a lot of people moving here for the short term and using it as a handy place to commute to the city, and I wonder if their transient nature means they'd be less likely to get involved in grassroots community affairs and campaigns?

Note the question mark there - I'm just thinking aloud here rather than offering any considered analysis!

I think it's fairly well established that renters are less likely to get involved in that sort of stuff, for obvious reasons (sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong) so that's a fair point. There's a lot of rental property anywhere in London though so I'm not sure if this place would necessarily be any worse.

 

[teuchter]

The thing that does worry me slightly is that given that these flats have mainly been bought by Buy To Let landlords, we're likely to get a lot of people moving here for the short term and using it as a handy place to commute to the city, and I wonder if their transient nature means they'd be less likely to get involved in grassroots community affairs and campaigns?

In other words, it's likely to be populated by pretty much exactly the same demographic as has been living/renting in Brixton for at least a couple of decades. Except it's easier to caricature them when they are perceived to be living en masse in a "gated development" instead of dispersed around houseshares and flats in converted victorian terraces off Brixton Hill. Most of which are also owned by buy-to-let landlords.

 

[Rushy]

The thing that does worry me slightly is that given that these flats have mainly been bought by Buy To Let landlords, we're likely to get a lot of people moving here for the short term and using it as a handy place to commute to the city, and I wonder if their transient nature means they'd be less likely to get involved in grassroots community affairs and campaigns?

Note the question mark there - I'm just thinking aloud here rather than offering any considered analysis!

I'd expect it to be fairly transient too - even for owner occupiers. The reality is they are professional starter flats and most young professionals get shifted about about by their companies, or have to move jobs to secure pay increases / climb the job ladder. My first job was with a huge US multinational and they moved me from West to South (somewhere down the A3) in the first six months and then asked me to move to a different city less than a year later, so I chucked it in. Many of my old colleagues were told to move abroad or be made redundant.

 

[leanderman]

In other words, it's likely to be populated by pretty much exactly the same demographic as has been living/renting in Brixton for at least a couple of decades. Except it's easier to caricature them when they are perceived to be living en masse in a "gated development" instead of dispersed around houseshares and flats in converted victorian terraces off Brixton Hill. Most of which are also owned by buy-to-let landlords.

Exactly. Like this road. And these landlords turn up to collect their rent in tax-free cash, while letting the front walls and paintwork fall to pieces!

 

[editor]

In other words, it's likely to be populated by pretty much exactly the same demographic as has been living/renting in Brixton for at least a couple of decades. Except it's easier to caricature them when they are perceived to be living en masse in a "gated development" instead of dispersed around houseshares and flats in converted victorian terraces off Brixton Hill. Most of which are also owned by buy-to-let landlords.

Except they're likelier to be far better off than the vast majority of their immediate neighbours, and I'd imagine the demographic will be a lot less mixed too.

 

[leanderman]

If we truly want proper mixed communities in London, then we should put any new social housing in areas like Knightsbridge and wholly private developments in areas like central Brixton.

 

[editor]

If we truly want proper mixed communities in London, then we should put any new social housing in areas like Knightsbridge and wholly private developments in areas like central Brixton.

We've already got the latter and I'm all for the former.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

If we truly want proper mixed communities in London, then we should put any new social housing in areas like Knightsbridge and wholly private developments in areas like central Brixton.

That wouldn't really get you mixed communities tbh. I don't know about Knightbridge but Chelsea for example has some large council estates and I don't think there's much integration there.

 

[teuchter]

Except they're likelier to be far better off than the vast majority of their immediate neighbours, and I'd imagine the demographic will be a lot less mixed too.

So do you want a Brixton with segregated areas for the richer and the poorer, or what?

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

Think w

I have been on the boards long enough to know when someone is deliberately trying to wind up people up.

Its a form of trolling.

think what you will, I have been honest on everyone of my post, a little flippant on a couple for which I apologise,but generally honest about how I feel about my situation

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

Can't see anywhere in the property details:

'Grandstand view of the July 6 Leander Road street party with eight live bands (incl Hobos, Poeticat, Peter Hunnigale, Mangoseed, Missing Links), free bike clinic, tug of war etc'.

All welcome, including Bim.

Thank you kind sir

 

[editor]

So do you want a Brixton with segregated areas for the richer and the poorer, or what?

WTF?

I'd like a Brixton where new developments are compelled to honour their affordable housing obligations. How about you?

 

[teuchter]

WTF?

I'd like a Brixton where new developments are compelled to honour their affordable housing obligations. How about you?

Me too. However, that's not what we were talking about. We were talking about your concern that many of the flats would be let by buy-to-let landlords. I pointed out that there is loads of this kind of housing in Brixton anyway. You said the difference here is that this particular housing is adjacent to areas where people will be significantly less well off. So I am wondering why you brought that point up, in the context of the discussion about the type of people that were likely to be living in the development. Because it appeared you were suggesting that the economic situation of people living near a new development was relevant to what kind of people it would be acceptable to have living in that development.

 

[editor]

Me too. However, that's not what we were talking about. We were talking about your concern that many of the flats would be let by buy-to-let landlords. I pointed out that there is loads of this kind of housing in Brixton anyway

Yes there is. But this is a whole fresh new batch of Buy To Let landlords in a development that has reneged on its commitment to provide affordable housing and that concerns me.

I can't be arsed to waste time with whatever other dull nitpicking exercise you're limbering up for, though, so you'll have to keep on "wondering."

 

[equationgirl]

Sorry - I thought you were suggesting that it was justified for them to direct their anger at the new residents, like Bim, on account of them having the power. Of course, I can understand why people feel that they are not being listened to and anger from some is directed in frustration at the new residents - but it is generally misdirected and unjustified.

Not you. Someone else was rather aggressively pressing him on the Nuclear Dawn mural and eviction of Carlton Mansions and the destruction of Cooltan and being able to afford a flat and a few other things, in a manner which seemed to imply it was his fault or he should care more simply on account of moving into the area. All painful for some but it sounded a tad self indulgent demanding recognition in that way.

I wasn't being aggressive. He said he was a long-time resident of the Brixton and as such, when he extolls everybody else to complain to the council about the state of affairs, I find it a bit rich when he doesn't include himself in that. Really smacks of 'do I as say, not as I do'.

 

[equationgirl]

Referred to as a community arts collective. About a page back. I assumed it was Cooltan. Was there another significant one there?

I think it was me, as all the stuff I had read about Cooltan (mainly your posts and blog writings) refer to it as an arts centre/collective of some decsription. My apologies if I've not used the correct description.

 

[teuchter]

I wasn't being aggressive. He said he was a long-time resident of the Brixton and as such, when he extolls everybody else to complain to the council about the state of affairs, I find it a bit rich when he doesn't include himself in that. Really smacks of 'do I as say, not as I do'.

Do you live in Brixton?

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

I wasn't being aggressive. He said he was a long-time resident of the Brixton and as such, when he extolls everybody else to complain to the council about the state of affairs, I find it a bit rich when he doesn't include himself in that. Really smacks of 'do I as say, not as I do'.

I have never said I was a long time resident (show me where I said that) I said I was moving to an area where I ALREADY LIVE. I do t need to include myself as I am not aggrieved

 

[equationgirl]

I have never said I was a long time resident (show me where I said that) I said I was moving to an area where I ALREADY LIVE. I do t need to include myself as I am not aggrieved

My mistake. How long have you lived there?

 

[equationgirl]

Do you live in Brixton?

No I do not. But I am involved in fighting with my local council on various planning applications for my local area, although I haven't lived in the area long I can see the damage that will happen if every application from developers goes ahead.

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

I'm not entirely sure what the demographics of the new residents will be, but there was certainly a big focus on catering for Buy To Let investors at their marketing day.

I'm not going to criticise anyone just for living their either. Well, not unless they act like Bim.

Errrrr I am a nice guy x x

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

My mistake. How long have you lived there?

I currently live on Brixton Hill and have been here for two years, previous to that Streatham and previous to that Croydon

 

[editor]

Do you live in Brixton?

Classic stuff.

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

No I do not. But I am involved in fighting with my local council on various planning applications for my local area, although I haven't lived in the area long I can see the damage that will happen if every application from developers goes ahead.

You bloody mean I had been taking all this abuse from you and you don't even live in the area lol, but I admire your tenacity,and your sense of purpose.

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

Classic stuff.

Yeah I love it, you couldn't write it .........oh we just did lol

 

[equationgirl]

You bloody mean I had been taking all this abuse from you and you don't even live in the area lol, but I admire your tenacity,and your sense of purpose.

I did not abuse you. You'd know if I did.

 

[equationgirl]

Am I not allowed to have any opinion on this subject because I don't live in the area?