Politics
Brixton votes on development levy funding roads, jobs, buses
The proposed levy would direct revenue from new property developments to road repairs, job training centres and bus route extensions across Brixton wards.
How we reported this
Voters across Brixton will cast ballots on 15 July on a single-question referendum that would establish a 1.5 per cent community infrastructure levy on qualifying developments above 500 square metres. The measure would apply to residential and commercial projects in Lambeth wards including Brixton Hill, Coldharbour and Ferndale, with proceeds ring-fenced for transport upgrades and employment programmes.
Lambeth Council faces a £14 million shortfall in its 2026 capital programme after adjustments to central government grant formulas announced in the March spending review. The referendum responds to that gap by creating a dedicated local revenue stream rather than increasing council tax rates, which last rose by 4.9 per cent in April 2025.
Impacts on daily commutes and employment access
Residents who travel daily on the Victoria line from Brixton station would see targeted funding for platform capacity works and step-free access at nearby stations such as Stockwell. Job seekers registered with the Brixton Job Centre could access expanded training places in construction and green energy trades funded by the levy, with 180 additional places projected in the first two years. Families in social housing on the Angell Town estate would benefit from extended bus lane hours on Brixton Road, cutting average journey times to central London by eight minutes according to Transport for London modelling.
The legislation states that 45 per cent of levy receipts must support employment and skills initiatives, while 35 per cent covers transport and 20 per cent goes to parks and community facilities. Lambeth Council’s 2025 financial report recorded infrastructure maintenance costs at £8.2 million last year, a figure the new levy is expected to offset by roughly 30 per cent annually once fully operational.
Timetable and decision process
Ballot papers will list the question in full and include a summary leaflet prepared by the council’s electoral services team. Counting begins immediately after polls close at 10 pm, with results declared the following morning at Lambeth Town Hall. If approved, the levy would take effect on developments granted planning permission after 1 January 2027, with the first payments due in the 2028 financial year.