Councillors had to be escorted by police out of a planning meeting in Brixton that descended into chaos after activists, local residents, business owners and anti-gentrification protesters reacted in fury to a decision to redevelop railway arches that house independent local businesses.

Community activists from the diverse south London neighbourhood stood on tables, threw glitter and declared the “death of Brixton” after the decision was announced on Tuesday.



Lambeth council’s planning committee had voted six to one in favour of the scheme, which has become a battleground in the struggle over gentrification in south London, but police were called to intervene after security guards failed to contain the protest.



Dozens of activists and tenants facing eviction had staged a loud demonstration outside the Karibu Education Centre in Brixton before filing inside to hear the planning committee’s two-and-a-half-hour deliberations, holding placards and banners as they filled the room.

With the building besieged by demonstrators, police formed a human shield outside the venue to allow councillors and council staff to pass the furious crowd who chanted: “Shame on you.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Chaotic scenes in the planning meeting after Lambeth approves the Brixton arches plan

The plan will mean that about 30 traders and tenants of the arches beneath Brixton railway station are evicted for a year while reconstruction work is carried out. Network Rail has promised the tenants a right to return, but is separately seeking to break their leases and impose rent increases.

Lambeth council’s decision, which has come after 18 months of fierce community resistance including large demonstrations across Brixton, removes one of the final barriers to the scheme. Campaigners, including shop owners, local residents and racial equality campaigners, were furious at the vote, which they say threatens the character of a district famous for its black history and working-class character.

Brixton is a historical cultural hub for African-Caribbeans and other minority groups, but rising rents, redeveloped shopping areas and an influx of wealthier residents have led to claims the established community is being forced out.

Malek Menad, the owner of Denmay Interiors, one of the businesses affected, said after the meeting: “A lot of questions have been refused answers … The committee was not strong enough … They didn’t ask questions.”

Campaigners were angered after the key reason given by council officers in favour of the plan was the claim that existing shopfronts were “detrimental to the appearance of the Brixton conservation area”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Protesters chant ‘shame on you’ as police officers escort the planning committee out of building

James Castle, who owns a business in nearby Herne Hill, was allowed to speak by prior arrangement to object to the plans. He pointed out that a council consultation on the plan had registered 947 negative responses against 15 in favour.

He said: “My formal objection entirely relevant to this planning application is the detrimental effect it will have on the character of the neighbourhood from which it may not recover, both in terms of the community and of the business elsewhere.

“The arch shops are at the centre of our vibrant community. They are part of the attraction to visitors from four corners of the earth and are one of our prized and quirky assets: independent shops and services grown organically over decades, not high-street chains.

“Turn it down just because the overwhelming majority of Brixton people, who live here, don’t want it.”



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Frosty reception for Lambeth councillors as they arrive at meeting

Bill Perry, of Lambeth Housing Activists, said local people were not necessarily against development. He added: “Of course we want the refurbishment, of course we want money spent on our area, but why do the people of Brixton have to move out when it comes?

“What’s happening is private speculators are looking at London, and the land we live on is worth millions and billions to them. They want it and they are going to force us off it to earn money.”

A statement by local MP Helen Hayes was read out during the meeting, in which she expressed her disapproval with the way Network Rail had treated tenants. Hayes said: “In my view, the work should be undertaken in a series of smaller phases to enable continuity of trading and to maintain activity in the arches; the rental offer to businesses who wish to return to the arches after the works should be adapted to reflect the possibility of a post-EU referendum recession; and further protection should be provided to the businesses in the arches who do not currently rent their premises directly from Network Rail but who make a major contribution to the character and quality of Brixton town centre.”

A Lambeth council spokesman said: “The council has worked very hard with Network Rail and tenants to reach an agreement on stepped rents making it more attractive for the 75% of businesses who want to return. We can’t comment on individual compensation or other legal agreements between landlord and tenants, but we are pleased that so many traders want to come back to the refurbished arches and will continue to offer support to them during their temporary relocation.”

Network Rail’s director of commercial estate, Alan Muir, said: “This is an £8m investment that will benefit the whole of Brixton and provide traders in the area with excellent facilities.We have been consulting with our tenants for the past 18 months and I’m really pleased that three-quarters of our tenants have decided to return. They will benefit from discounted stepped rents over seven years, so they will not be paying 2015 rent levels until 2024.

“We want to continue Brixton’s independent tradition story with a mix of independent and small traders, in the same way that we do across the capital. Of the 4,000 businesses in our London arch estate, fewer than 20 are let to national chains and, nationwide, 98% of our arches are rented out to small local businesses.”