Lambeth Council Approves Brockwell Park Festivals Despite Resident Opposition

Lambeth Council has approved plans for a series of major summer festivals to take place in Brockwell Park next year, following a lengthy and at times heated planning committee meeting.

Councillors voted unanimously to grant temporary permission for the events, allowing Summer Events Ltd to use just over a quarter of the south London park for up to 32 days between 9 May and 9 June 2026. The approved timeframe includes event days, set-up periods and contingency days for poor weather.

The decision marks a shift in approach after previous editions of the Brockwell Live series operated under permitted development rights, which allow temporary events without full planning consent for a limited number of days each year. Legal action brought by local campaigners last year challenged the council’s use of those rights, arguing that the total number of event days had exceeded the permitted threshold.

Following a court ruling in favour of the campaigners, the council opted not to appeal and instead required a full planning application for future festivals. The newly approved application covers five ticketed events including Field Day, Cross the Tracks, City Splash, Mighty Hoopla and Brockwell Bounce. Organisers confirmed that Wide Awake will not take place in 2026.

Opposition from residents and community groups featured prominently during the committee debate. Representatives from Protect Brockwell Park and the Friends of Brockwell Park raised concerns about environmental damage, citing issues such as soil compaction, deterioration of grass areas and potential harm to tree roots caused by heavy vehicles.

Community leaders argued that significant sections of the park become inaccessible during the festival period and questioned whether recovery efforts had been sufficient after previous events. Some ward councillors reported receiving dozens of objections from residents who felt their concerns had not been adequately addressed.

In response, festival organisers and consultants presented ecological assessments indicating that impacts on the park were temporary and could be mitigated. They highlighted management plans aimed at protecting sensitive areas, restoring turf and limiting long term environmental harm.

Supporters of the events also pointed to their cultural and economic value. Event director Joe Elkins described the festivals as a celebration of Lambeth’s diversity and creativity, while a council report estimated that the series could contribute around 10 million pounds to the local economy through visitor spending and job creation.

Planning officers recommended approval, concluding that the events were time limited and reversible, and that their social and economic benefits outweighed what they described as short term impacts. The committee ultimately endorsed that assessment.

The approval sets the stage for another busy summer in Brockwell Park, with preparations expected to begin in early May as organisers move forward under the new planning framework.