It is almost 3 years to the day in February 2015 since Network Rail rolled out their plans to dismantle the long established and well loved community of traders and shopkeepers within Brixton Arches, triple the rents, insert shiny new businesses and provide Brixton with even more over-priced bars and restaurants than the town’s citizens can shake a stick at.
However, more than the eviction of traders in the arches, it is now becoming evident that there is a very real threat to traders on the external market on Brixton Station Road, inevitably forcing most, if not all, of the fresh food stalls and traders out of business due to the expected impact on the local environment and the quality and noxious content of the emissions from the building site just a few feet away.
Brixton Arches: 3 Year Anniversary Action
The Save Brixton Arches campaign will be holding an anniversary solidarity action this Sunday 4th February, between 1pm – 3pm on Brixton Station Road.
This historic and cultural part of Brixton is about to disappear forever under the steamroller of gentrification and the negligent actions of both Network Rail and Lambeth Council. Read more here.
Background
For anyone unable to attend, here are three of the most frequently asked questions and answers regarding this development:
1) How many original businesses and traders are coming back after the work is finished?
Network Rail initially claimed that 75% of traders would return to their arches.
This was later reduced to 50%, but most recently Network Rail has claimed that 9 traders from the 26 arches and 13 kiosks have indicated they want to return.
This equates to less than 25% of the original traders. (However it is now widely expected that none of the original independent traders will actually be returning to the arches.)
2) Why did Network Rail have to evict all of the traders?
Network Rail claimed within their original planning application that they needed vacant possession of the viaduct to undertake this development and therefore had to evict all of the traders. They also said the works could not be phased.
They lied. Network Rail knew all along that 2 tenants, (H&T Pawnbrokers and William Hill), had unbreakable leases until 2020, however they didn’t expect that some of Brixton’s long-standing independent traders would fight these evictions.
This has now resulted in Network Rail undertaking a phased development around the remaining independent traders, as well as H&T Pawnbrokers and William Hill, which confirms that the vast majority of original evictions in early 2016 were vastly premature and totally unnecessary.
3) Why is work only starting now, when it was supposed to be finished long ago?
Network Rail have repeatedly lied and blamed the independent traders for the delays to this development. The facts are that Network Rail gained planning approval in August 2016 and the council attached 19 No. planning conditions to this permission, 4 No. of which had to be discharged prior to any development works commencing.
Network Rail only submitted applications to discharge these 4 No. planning conditions in July and October 2017 and Lambeth Planning approved these applications on 7th December 2017 and 11th January 2018 respectively.
The delays associated with this development and the responsibility for the creation of the hoarded off Dead Zone in the centre of Brixton therefore rests entirely with Network Rail.
[This article by a local resident who has elected to remain anonymous]
Brixton Arches background & resources:
Read the latest news and join the big discussion on the urban75 forums (over 1,500 posts)
More info:
The vote to redevelop Brixton Arches: smear campaigns, doublethink and foregone decisions
Brixton’s A&C Deli: the inside story of a small business destroyed by gentrification, Network Rail & Lambeth Council.
About the Save Brixton Arches campaign:
Save Brixton Arches official website
Twitter: #savebrixtonarches