Popular south London venue Pop Brixton could be demolished

Pop Brixton, a popular eating, drinking and dancing spot in south London that supports local vendors, could be demolished under new plans. 

The community initiative, which is run in partnership with Lambeth Council, is home to a variety of food vendors, bars and grassroots music events. But soon that could all come to an end, as plans to built two high-rise towers along Station Road could see Pop Brixton knocked down. 

Proposals to build a 20-storey and 17-storey tower along the road were revealed as part of a public consultation about the redevelopment of the area, which could also see the workspace International House extended upwards to become a 14-storey block of flats. The whole development proposes around 280 new homes, with a workspace replacing Pop Brixton. At least 40 percent of the homes are promised to be affordable. It also promises to provide 4,750 square metres of public realm improvements, including ‘rain garden planting’ and play areas. 

According to Brixton Buzz, Pop Brixton has been operating at a loss for several years, and was never designed to be a permanent destination. Its lease was extended numerous times, but it never turned the profit that Lambeth Council had hoped for. 

Lambeth Council told Brixton Buzz they were only ‘testing the waters’ for the potential two towers, and have not yet submitted planning permission. The council’s documents said that the sites of Pop Brixton and International House were both ‘suitable for tall buildings’

Locals in Brixton have a reputation for fiercely opposing high-rise developments, as was seen in 2023 when the 20-storey Hondo Tower, owned by Texan millionaire DJ and landlord Taylor McWilliams, was axed after local opposition. It’s likely there will be resistance to the proposed developments which will prove new housing for the area. 

A public consultation is currently open and due to run until late 2025 – locals can give feedback to the plans online here. A formal planning application is expected to come in 2026, with completion pencilled in for 2030. 

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