Lambeth Council has issued a statement following a High Court ruling that found its approval of extended summer events in Brockwell Park to be unlawful. The ruling, delivered last week, concluded that the Council acted “irrationally” in granting permission for the Brockwell Live festival series to occupy the park for 37 days - exceeding the statutory 28 day limit for temporary land use without planning permission.

The legal action was brought by campaign group Protect Brockwell Park. In response to the ruling, Lambeth Council confirmed that the event organiser, Summer Events Ltd, has submitted a revised application for a 24 day schedule, which falls within the legal limit. The Council said it is currently reviewing the application.

In its statement, Lambeth Council emphasised that the events remain on course to go ahead and that the process of reviewing the new application “does not prevent the event from continuing as planned.” The Council also highlighted the economic and cultural benefits of the events, including support for the free Lambeth Country Show, investment in local parks and increased footfall for nearby businesses.

Summer Events Ltd has also issued a statement affirming that all scheduled events, including those in the Brockwell Live series and the Lambeth Country Show, will proceed. The organiser noted that the High Court’s ruling related to a technical legal point and did not call for cancellation of the events themselves.

Protect Brockwell Park has raised concerns over the Council’s handling of the situation and indicated it is exploring further legal options. The group, along with other local stakeholders, has questioned the environmental and community impact of large scale commercial events in Brockwell Park.

As we reported previously, Norwood Forum and members of Brockwell Park Community Partners (BPCP) have called for a pause on major events to allow the park time to recover and to reassess how public space is used. However, views within the wider community remain diverse, with some residents welcoming the events and others raising concerns about access, noise and ecological damage.

The revised application remains under consideration and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.