Campaigners have slammed the decision to press ahead with a series of festivals at Brockwell Park despite a High Court ruling last week.
Organisers of Brockwell Live, which hosts festivals in the beloved Brixton park, including Mighty Hoopla and City Splash, confirmed that all of its events will take place as planned, despite a successful legal case against Lambeth Council.
The future of the festivals appeared uncertain after a High Court judge ruled in favour of campaigners from the Protect Brockwell Park group. The group had challenged Lambeth Council’s approval of the events under ‘permitted development’ rules, arguing that this approach effectively sidestepped the full planning process.
However, in a statement yesterday, festival organisers maintained that the ruling concerned “a particular point of law and whether an administrative process had been carried out correctly.” They added that they “look forward to opening the gates and welcoming festivalgoers later this week.”
Lambeth Council also said the events would go ahead, stating that Summer Events Limited, the company behind Brockwell Live, “has applied to Lambeth council for a new certificate of lawfulness, for 24 days, following the high court ruling last week on the previous certificate.”
“The council is urgently considering that application. That consideration does not stop the events proceeding,” they added.
Now, the Protect Brockwell Park group has said it will challenge Lambeth Council if it were to grant a new certificate of lawfulness for events in Brockwell Park.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Brockwell Live claims that the judgment was made on a technicality and believes it has the legal right to proceed.
“We - and our lawyers - strongly disagree. Yet Brockwell Live has asked Lambeth Council to certify this position, again. Why?
“Lambeth Council has no business rubber-stamping a flawed legal position for a second time.
“Issuing another certificate now would defy last week’s judgment. If Lambeth Council does, we’ll challenge the certificate, immediately.
“We want Lambeth Council to stop using legal mechanisms to avoid scrutiny. This campaign is about the park as a green public space - and Lambeth Council’s pattern of dodging scrutiny. It stops now.”
The Protect Brockwell Park campaign — backed by award-winning actor Mark Rylance — has sparked widespread debate across London and within the live music industry.
Some have sided with the Protect Brockwell Park group, which argues that the festivals cause an “adverse ecological impact” and limit access to green space for local residents.
Others, however, support the events, saying they enrich local culture and provide an economic boost to the area.
The legal challenge focused on a key issue: Lambeth Council’s use of 'permitted development' rules to allow these festivals to take place, effectively bypassing the full planning process.
Campaigners argued that Lambeth Council acted improperly by issuing a licence under the rules, claiming they were misapplied in this case.
They maintained that the event series, including setup and de-rigging, spans more than 28 days and therefore exceeds the legal limit.
Lambeth Council had contested the legal challenge, which was led by Rebekah Shaman, a Protect Brockwell Park member.
At a High Court hearing a week before the festivals were due to begin, the Honourable Mr Justice Mould ruled in favour of Ms Shaman, stating the council’s decision to grant a Lawful Development Certificate was “irrational”.
The Judge ordered the existing certificate to be quashed, leaving the festivals briefly in limbo.
Mr Justice Mould counted the “period between commencement and normal use of the park” to be 37 days and as such, this was “incontrovertibly beyond the scope” of planning development rights.
Events in Brockwell Park include Mighty Hoopla, which is widely celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere and strong ties to the LGBT+ community. In 2025, the festival is scheduled for May 31 and June 1, with headliners including Ciara and Kesha.
Brockwell Live’s six festivals include Wide Awake, which is set to see Irish rap trio Kneecap perform on Friday.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “Summer Events Limited has applied to Lambeth Council for a new certificate of lawfulness, for 24 days, following the High Court ruling last week on the previous certificate.
“The council is urgently considering that application. That consideration does not stop the events proceeding. The council has a statutory responsibility to consider all valid applications it receives.
“The council is committed to the Lambeth Country Show, the biggest free community festival in the UK, the running of which is dependent upon income and infrastructure from events in the park.
“Due to the financial crisis in local government we rely on income from events in the park to enable us to stage the country show, keep it free for all Lambeth residents and to reinvest back into Brockwell Park all year round.”
Brockwell Live has been approached by The Standard for further comment.
