Brixton’s infrastructure upgrade: new homes, market protections and a lido under council control

Lambeth Council is moving forward with a major regeneration of 49 Brixton Station Road and 6 Canterbury Crescent, a project that will deliver around 280 new homes, 40 percent of them affordable, alongside new workspace and improved street market infrastructure, according to a council update. Community engagement is scheduled to run from June to September 2026, with a formal planning application expected later in the year.

Why this matters for residents

The Brixton town centre scheme is part of a broader push to address local housing demand and support the area’s market economy. With affordable housing set at 40 percent of the total, the development could help ease pressure on households struggling with rising rents in Lambeth. The project also includes upgrades to street market infrastructure, which sustains the trading traditions that define Brixton’s character. Meanwhile, the council is renovating a club building in a Brixton park to lease to youth charity Dwaynamics, and will deliver 1,750 square metres of affordable employment space with business support as part of the wider Brixton programme. These measures aim to keep community facilities and local jobs within reach for existing residents.

Local protections and new management

Brixton Village and Market Row have been officially designated as an Asset of Community Value, a status that gives the community legal rights to bid to purchase the site within six months and provides extra protections against redevelopment. The designation, confirmed by Lambeth Council, means any future sale of the market complex would trigger a moratorium, giving local groups time to raise funds and put together a bid. Separately, Brockwell Lido came under new management on 1 July 2026, when Lambeth Council’s in-house service, Active Lambeth, took responsibility for the 89-year-old outdoor pool. The move brings the lido back under direct public control, potentially offering more stable pricing and programming for regular swimmers.

Street trees and green infrastructure

A proposed £180,000 scheme to plant five semi-mature trees outside Brixton Recreation Ground remains at the design stage, with the bulk of costs allocated to permeable paving and underground sustainable drainage, known as SuDS, rather than the trees themselves. While the planting is modest in scale, the investment in drainage infrastructure reflects a growing emphasis on managing surface water and reducing flood risk in built-up areas of Lambeth. No completion date has been set, and the council has not yet announced a formal public consultation on the designs.

What happens next

Residents can take part in community engagement sessions for the Brixton Station Road and Canterbury Crescent scheme between now and September 2026, with planning documents expected to be submitted for approval later in the year. The council has not yet published a timeline for the park club building renovation or the affordable workspace delivery. For those who use Brockwell Lido, the switch to Active Lambeth management is now in effect, and further announcements on opening hours and membership are expected in the coming months. Updates on the street tree scheme will follow as designs are finalised.