Project overview

The council has secured funding from the GLA’s Good Growth Fund to deliver improvements to the Brixton Recreation Centre, Brixton Station Road and Beehive Place.

The project aims to enhance the best of what is already there to create meaningful improvements for Brixton’s existing communities of residents and traders, as well as visitors. It will put the Rec back at the centre of Brixton’s day-to-day life and improve Brixton Station Road and Beehive Place so that these vital elements of the area’s social and cultural life work better now and into the future.

The proposals have been developed in collaboration with muf architecture/art and local groups such as Brixton Market Traders’ Federation, Brixton BID, Brixton Rec User Group, the traders of the street, Photofusion and Max Roach Adventure Playground.

Key facts

Area covered

The Rec Quarter, which is the immediate area around Brixton Recreation Centre, and includes International House, Brixton Station Road, Beehive Place, and Pope’s Road.

Cost

£4m (£2.17 is from the Good Growth Fund, plus match funding from the council and other grants)

Project map

The diagram below shows all of the different improvements that we’re proposing to the Rec and surrounding area.

Click to view fullscreen

Project timeline

Here’s an overview of what has happened so far on the project and who’s been involved. We hope it’s helpful to see how different organisations and people have been part of the process so far.

Summer 2019:

Funding secured from GLA’s Good Growth Fund

Spring/Summer 2020:

muf architecture / art appointed as project design team
on-site conversations held with Rec businesses to understand key concerns
Workshops held with Brixton Rec User Group (BRUG) and Brixton Society exploring the Rec’s architectural and social history
Engagement and discussions with a number of local stakeholders including the Brixton BID, the Brixton Liveable Neighbourhoods team, Gort Scott (the architects behind the Electric Avenue Regeneration) and the Arch Company (owners of the railway arches) among others
muf undertake a 6 week residency at Max Roach Adventure Playground - children and their carers/elders talk about the role the Rec plays in their lives
Brixton youth-focused organisations help establish how young people can be involved and engaged in the delivery of the project. Those involved: Afewee Training Academy, Bushman’s Kitchen, Business Launchpad, Code 7, Make Shift Foundation, Photofusion, The Healthy Living Platform, upCycle at the Remakery and WeRise.

Autumn 2020:

Wendy Jackson, from Scope for More, begins her work supporting business owners

Winter 2020/21:

AKOU appointed to evaluate and measure the Social Impact of the project
A talk and virtual walk led by Kelly Foster explores contemporary social histories around the Rec
Bike racks in front of Brixtonia removed
Temporary sign made for the market

Spring 2021:

Local organisations working with Young People take part in Youth Panel meetings
Research and consultation sessions held on the street with businesses and market traders

Summer 2021:

Meetings with market traders and businesses on Brixton Station Road to talk about the planning proposals
Public consultation sessions held on the street and online to discuss the planning proposals
The steps the Rec have been renovated
Summer of Play programme begins on Brixton Station Road! 10 young people (8-13 years old) are involved in this collaboration between Max Roach Adventure Playground and muf
Training programme with young people (ages 18-25) is launched to develop community research skills and conduct community research in collaboration with AKOU & muf

Winter 2021

Planning permission granted
Works start on the street with new power infrastructure

What's next?

Autumn/ Winter 2022:

Works to public area of the Rec and the shops due to be completed

Spring/ Summer 2023:

Works to the Rec workspace due to be completed

Find out more

Explore the rest of these pages to find out more about our specific proposals. We’ve broken them down into a set of key themes:

We also want to hear what you think, visit the Get involved page to send your feedback or sign up for events.

Get in touch

For more information, email Martha Levi Smythe at mlevismythe@lambeth.gov.uk

Also in Brixton

This is just one of the council-led projects aiming to improve Brixton town centre by investing in new affordable homes, revitalised public spaces, new workspace and other changes that will support local residents and businesses.

Explore other Brixton projects:

Growing Brixton’s Rec Quarter
Brixton Liveable Neighbourhoods

Next: Inspired by the Rec