Archive: Save Granville!

The threat to Granville Arcade.

In December 2008, London Associated Properties (LAP), the owner of Brixton’s covered markets, presented plans to knock down Brixton Village (Granville Arcade) and rebuild it with fewer shops and a ten storey tower block on top. They intended to send their application to Lambeth by the end of January 2009. The proposal would have been a disaster for the market and Brixton in general.

LAP had also developed a bad reputation for ignoring the wishes of local councils and communities. See the news section for more... 

FBM campaigned against the proposals alongside councillors and other community groups. In March 2009, LAP told the council they no longer intended to apply. We wait to here what their new plans are.

The content below is from the campaign. 

Granville Arcade / Brixton Village must not be demolished. 

The Arcade, which is in a conservation area, absolutely typifies the Brixton markets. When a leading artist, Anthony Eyton RA, was commissioned by London Transport to represent Brixton for a tube poster, what did he paint? Granville Arcade. Lambeth Council’s own planning policies say that:  “The Council will resist granting consent for the demolition of a building … that makes a positive contribution to a character …of a conservation area”1. The arcade makes more than a positive contribution to the character of the area – it practically defines it. 

If it were demolished, where would the traders go while the market is being rebuilt?  

The market will be closed for two years (or more!), and there are no proposal to relocate traders. This will destroy their livelihoods, remove a major local facility and could contribute to a decline in Brixton town centre in general  

What of the proposed new building? 

See the plans at LAP's architects:

http://www.stanfordeatwell.co.uk/projects_brixton_town_centre.html 

At ten stories high it would also contravene Lambeth’s planning policies. “Buildings should be of a scale, massing and height that are appropriate to their site … and location in the townscape”2. There is nothing that tall in the conservation area and the building would dwarf the adjacent, attractive Walton Lodge Laundry. 

There would be fewer, but larger, shops. This will clearly attract the high street chains rather than be suitable for local traders. 

And guess what – that also contravenes Lambeth’s planning policies. The arcade is in what is called “the Area of Small Shops and Markets”3. The clue is in the word “small”! 

Brixton can’t cope with hundreds of new residents in new tower blocks. 

No consideration has been given to the impact on local services, which are already at full stretch in Brixton. 

The Friends of Brixton Market wants the best for Brixton Market.  

We want to see Granville full of traders on secure leases paying reasonable rents, and more shoppers of all kinds being well served by Brixton’s historic market.  

Brixton Market is Brilliant and it belongs to all of us! Don’t let them trash it! Let’s work to make it even better! LAP intends to submit its proposals in the next few weeks. Then we all have only 28 days to write letters to the council to object!  

Please write to oppose it!    

1 Lambeth Unitary Development Plan (UDP) – Policy 47(c) 

2 UDP – Policy 33(c) 

3 UDP – Policy 59