Lambeth Council has officially designated Brixton Village and Market Row as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), a move that provides some protection from development and gives the local community a chance to bid for ownership. The decision, announced on July 7, was welcomed by the Buy Back Brixton campaign, which comprises traders and residents, though they cautioned that the ACV status does not yet ensure community ownership.
Background of the Campaign
Concerns over the future of Brixton Village emerged in June when it was reportedly offered to international investors for £50 million. The Brixton Traders and Community Association opposed the sale, raising fears of rent hikes and evictions. In response, the Brixton-based Advocacy Academy launched the Buy Back Brixton campaign, which submitted a competitive counter-bid on June 22. The campaign also started a GoFundMe page that has raised over £550,000 and a 38Degrees petition that has garnered more than 38,000 signatures.
Significance of the ACV Designation
The ACV listing, made possible by an application from the Stour Trust, means that when the site comes up for sale, community groups will have six months to prepare a bid before it can be sold to others. While it does not guarantee they will be the preferred buyer, it provides a crucial opportunity against cash-rich developers. A Buy Back Brixton spokesperson described the ACV as 'a long time coming' and recognized Brixton Village's community value, but emphasized that the campaign's immediate focus remains the live second-round bidding process.
'The ACV is an important mechanism that can help communities protect valued local assets and strengthen community ownership campaigns. It is one of several tools being used to support the campaign’s wider goal of bringing Brixton Village and Market Row into community ownership and protecting it in the long term,' the spokesperson said. However, they added: 'The ACV is not a silver bullet. It does not, on its own, guarantee ownership or provide a fixed timeline for us to fundraise the money needed to buy the markets.'
Current Bidding Process
Buy Back Brixton has been invited into the second-round bidding process after submitting its bid. The spokesperson noted: 'We can’t comment on the wider sale process, other bidders or decisions for the seller/agents, but our understanding is that the market has not been sold and that Buy Back Brixton’s community bid remains live.'
Council Support
Cllr Martin Abrams, Leader of Lambeth Council, called the ACV designation a 'big step forward' for the campaign and for community ownership, aiming to safeguard Brixton's heritage. 'The Advocacy Academy and the Brixton Traders & Community Association have set a really ambitious vision, and I’m strongly supporting this campaign because Brixton Village and Market Row are the beating heart of Brixton. They’re hugely valued by our diverse communities, and have been shaped by generations of traders, creatives and entrepreneurs from our borough. This is a once in a generation opportunity for community action to ensure this cherished local asset is held in local hands. I’m thrilled that, by approving this application, our administration has given the community this opportunity,' Abrams said.
The new ACV status for Brixton Village and Market Row will be published online on Lambeth’s register of ACV decisions made in the last five years.
