The document discusses the regeneration and redevelopment of Brixton in South London and the concerns of long-term residents. Millions of pounds are being spent to redevelop the area, which has led to the demolition of some council estates and affordable housing. This is displacing many residents who can no longer afford to live in the gentrifying neighborhood. While new developments aim to attract younger professionals and families, long-time residents worry that the character and community of Brixton is being changed against their wishes in the name of regeneration.

1. Rosie Shopland: SHO15444976
Brixton & its MillionPound Makeover
Brixton, South WestLondon, is an area in the borough of Lambeth that is
always changing. Howeverrecently with millions of pounds being pumped
into the area, residents are worried about how a newly approved
regenerationplan will change their community.
Recently, I’ve read so many articles on the regeneration of Brixton, written by many people
who have probably never lived there in their whole lives. However, for me, it hits home a lot
more as the regeneration of Brixton affected part of my own family. All of my mum’s family
have lived in South London for generations. Hailing from Lewisham not many people in my
family have moved afar, which is why
we were shocked a few years ago when
we got a call from my aunt telling us
she was moving out of her Brixton flat
– but not by choice.
The hustle and bustle of London life
has always attracted a diverse number
of people to it’s streets. However, with more people moving in, more space is having to be
made. The borough of Lambeth in particular is feeling the full force of regeneration
especially the area of Brixton.
Brixton’s identity in South London has changed rapidly over the years, in the 1920s Brixton
was South London’s answer to Oxford Street (my nan can still remember her mum taking all
the children to buy their best dresses ‘down Brixton.’) The 1950s saw the influence of culture
change in Brixton with immigrants from the West Indies making this area their home.
Throughout the 1980s to 2000s Brixton then changed reputation once again, having a title as
one of the most notoriously criminal areas in London. Although, Brixton and the vibrant
community pulled through the bad press… which has led us hear today. Brixton has officially
become one of the most popular areas for young people, stealing the crown off ‘trendy’ areas
like Shoreditch and Camden.

2. Rosie Shopland: SHO15444976
Once a close community of people that occupied Brixton’s streets, including my own family,
the bustling area has been going under a massive redevelopment. The residents, however, are
not staying quiet about the changes.
Murphy Odeyemi, who has lived in Brixton for 25 years after moving here from Nigeria says,
‘’I’ve seen Brixton at it’s worse, when people didn’t even wanna step foot in the area let
alone all of a sudden buy houses here. It’s amazing to see this change but we need to
remember the people that have been here through everything. They’re the people that have
roots here.’’
The affordability of living in Brixton too is on the rise. The problem is that if you are one of
many that lose your flat/house to the bulldozers, will you be able to afford another? Rozine
Jahfar, a street photographer based in Brixton says, ‘’the housing crisis is a massive problem,
loads of people are being kicked out of their council flats that they've lived in for years,
which will mean that Brixton will change as a place, because richer people will move there,
as they will be the only ones to afford the housing prices, and the people that have been there
their whole lives will have to leave.’’

3. Rosie Shopland: SHO15444976
According to
Zoopla.co.uk, the
average house
price paid in
Brixton as of this
year is £545,032,
which on paper is
high but not as
extortionate
compared to other
areas in London.
Although when
broken down, for a
family that has just been kicked out of their three bed flat they are looking to pay, £617,116
or £2,317pcm. This leaves us with the question, who’s buying these new homes and flats
with a such a hefty price tag?
Assistant Sales Manager at Barrat Homes, Yolada Jacob believes, ‘’Due to the large amount
of young people living in the area flats are in high demand for renting. As of five to six years
ago there were less than a handful of new build developments however in current times new
build developments are popping up on every corner to suit the demand.’’
To make room for these new build
developments council estates are in the
firing line. Myatt’s Field estate got
notoriously demolished making many of
their long term residents homeless and
squeezing 980 homes on a plot that
originally had 477. With 150 million being
spent on regenerating the estate, more than
half of the flats are being sold privately
with even more being sold as shared-ownership. The original Guinness Trust buildings which
provided 390 social rented flats got knocked down this May making way for a total of 487
new-build apartments with space for only 211 social rented flats, just less than half than

4. Rosie Shopland: SHO15444976
before! Now, Cressingham Gardens follows demolishment as Lambeth council agrees to
bulldoze another 300 homes in favour of new-build apartments.
When asked about the situation Lambeth Council decided not to comment. However, Rozine
says, ‘I know there’s pros about the regeneration, but I’m slightly biased after speaking to the
locals living there. The council just tell them that they'll have new houses for them, but for
the people that have lived there for 50 years and their families have previously its hard
because they don’t particularly wanna move to another part of London, and move their kids
out of their schools and the area they know.’’
Lambeth Housing Activists have actively been protesting against the council for the
demolishment of these long standing estates. The group has a huge following from social
media sites and are now tackling further regeneration plans and closures of public areas such
as libraries. When contacted they gave no comment on the regeneration of the area but urged
people to come to their meetings and protests to help save the borough from further
demolishment.
With new-builds taking over traditional purpose built housing another worry for residents is
the change of community. Yolanda describes, ‘’the newer builds that offer schemes for first
time buyers will bring a lot of young professionals, young couples, small families etc that
want to live in a London post code without the cost.’’ Even though housing prices are
rocketing, in relation to the rest of London, Brixton is an affordable option for people that
still want to be on a tube line and redevelopment makes the area even more attractive. ‘’The
area is growing in such a way to suit the younger generation with lively bars, artisan shops
and boutiques along with great transport links,’’ states Yolanda.
Olive Hunt, a 19-year-old student living in Herne Hill says, ‘’Brixton is way more lively than
it was when I was kid. I go there to shop and pubs are cheaper but still have the same vibe as
central.’’
With the focus of redevelopment attracting a younger generation, Yolanda assures, ‘’the
demographics of the area has already changed over the past 10 years and it is not likely to
hugely differ from how it is now. It is likely to continue in this way for a good few years until

5. Rosie Shopland: SHO15444976
another more popular ‘up and coming’ area pops up around the corner and low property
prices draw attention away from Brixton.’’
With the millions of pounds being spent on redeveloping Brixton, people forget that many
people have to move out of their lifetime homes to make this happen. The voice of the long
term residents need to be heard and listened to – just how my aunt’s wasn’t. If there was one
question that the people of Brixton could air it would be this, Lambeth Council, are you
really listening to us?
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