Protests erupted in Brixton last night over Lambeth Council’s decision to approve the development of International House and the site next door.
The campaign group Save International House were joined by tenants of the building to protest on the evening the decision on the planning application was made.
Save International house campaigners said: “Giving billionaire property developers everything they want, in the hope that something will be returned from those enormous profits, has failed to meet the needs of normal people for decades. Isn’t it time that we took an alternative approach?”
The development, which includes plans to repurpose the building currently known as International House, will also see the building of three towers.
International House is an office block previously home to Lambeth Council offices, which is currently leased temporarily to 3 Space, a charity which provides work spaces for charities and non-profits.
Elena from Lambeth Larder, a tenant of International House told the South-West Londoner: “They can’t just send us all out and leave us without a space because how else will we be able to do our work together?
“The same community in International House will be dispersed and I am sure we will find places, but being all together is so much more powerful.”
Lambeth Larder is a directory that connects people in need to essential services such as foodbanks.
Elena Lo Presti, another tenant who runs Craft Forward said: “We are protesting now because we don’t agree with Lambeth kicking all of us out for profit, essentially.
“International House is a building that holds so much social value – there are over a hundred organisations.
“It’s just crazy that the building is going to be gutted and made into luxury flats.”
Independent and Green Candidates for the Brixton Windrush seat in the local elections were also in attendance.
Joanne Scott an independent candidate said: “I came down to the protest because I am a part of the community and we have our meetings in International House every week and as you know there’s lots of different businesses, charities, social enterprises that are very useful for everyone in the community and I would definitely like International House to stay.”
Oliviero Thomas, an architecture student, ex co-chair of the Lambeth Youth Council and candidate for Southbank and Waterloo in local elections spoke in support of the development at the planning committee.
Thomas also sat on the community advisory board for the development.
He said: “I am here to strongly advocate for the approval of this re-development project, while the architectural plans and fiscal benefits are clear, the real reason this project must go ahead lies in its foundation, its unprecedented approach to community engagement.
“For a long time, big developments have happened to communities not with them, this project fundamentally changes that narrative.”
The lease was originally given to 3space in 2018 on a ‘meanwhile’ basis and has been renewed a number of times.
As the lease drew to a close the council emphasised that the tenants are not being evicted, instead their agreement has not been renewed.
The lease will end in March 2027 and the council has offered tenants an exit strategy package which includes legal advice, financial support for conveyancing costs, and sign-posting to alternative spaces.
The development will create 288 housing units alongside other mixed use amenities, including workspaces, some of which will be affordable.
Of the available habitable rooms in the entire development 40.3% will be affordable. Of the housing units, 98 will be dedicated to affordable housing making the percentage of affordable units 34%.
None of the affordable units will be located in the International House building.
Lambeth Council was contacted for comment and pointed towards their Love Lambeth piece, the planning report and the discussion at the planning committee meeting.
Feature image credit: Lucy Giles, South-West Londoner
