Campaigners have launched a third judicial review over Brockwell Park events, alleging unlawful permissions and environmental harm concerns in Brixton.
A campaign group, known as Protect Brockwell Park, have launched a legal challenge against Lambeth Council over its decision to grant planning permission for major events at the site.
This includes festivals such as Field Day, City Splash and Wide Awake.
Last year, the group, which is made up of local residents in the Brixton area, crowdfunded more than £300,000 to pursue legal action and sent a pre-action letter to the local authority.
They have previously succeeded in two judicial reviews, with the council twice found to have ‘acted unlawfully in approving commercial events’, resulting in event organisers Brockwell Live bing required to obtain full planning permission.
Despite those rulings, commercial festivals including Mighty Hoopla, Field Day, Cross The Tracks and City Splash still went ahead as planned in 2025.
Protect Brockwell Park has now initiated a third judicial review, arguing Lambeth Council’s latest decision to grant permission for the same events was again unlawful.
‘The park is strongly protected under national policy, particularly in its value as public open space, but this was not taken seriously in the planning decision, there was missing evidence, and the council relied on vague environment assurances,’ a crowdfund campaign reads.
While the group says it is ‘not against’ all events at Brockwell Park, it argues ‘the current model – large-scale, repeated commercial use with long enclosures – is not sustainable.’
It adds: ‘If this goes unchallenged, Brockwell Park faces the same pattern again – including exclusion of the public from large areas for over a month, ongoing and cumulative damage to grass, trees and wildlife, and repeated enclosure for large commercial events.’
In response, Brockwell Live told Mixmag it is ‘disappointed’ with the latest legal challenge.
‘The planning process was thorough, shaped by feedback from residents, stakeholders and councillors, and supported by experts in ecology, biodiversity and planning,’ they said. ‘It confirmed the event can be delivered responsibly and, with ongoing investment, deliver a net positive impact on the park’s biodiversity and ecology.’
They added: ‘Brockwell Live supports the UK’s under-pressure night-time and creative industries, delivers free community programmes and provides thousands of free and discounted tickets for local residents and key workers. Lambeth Council also projects the 2026 series will generate over £10 million for the local economy.’
Image: Brockwell Park/Openverse
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