Town Hall opening it’s doors to Brixton
BY NEWS REPORTER
shuz@slpmedia.co.uk
Lambeth Town Hall has reopened following an 18-month restoration of the Grade II listed building in the heart of Brixton
The Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Marcia Cameron, joined Lambeth council leader, Cllr Lib Peck, for the ceremony at the building on Friday.
The town hall was built between 1905 and 1908. The red brick building with Portland stone dressings had had a series of extensions and additions over the years which had diluted its character. The office space inside had become tired and outdated.
The refurbishment is now fully accessible, meets higher environmental standards. Cllr Peck said: “I’m delighted to be able to reopen the Town Hall. It looks absolutely fantastic.
“This building has stood at the centre of our civic pride for more than 100 years and we have ensured it will continue to hold this important place for many more decades.
“Beyond that the refurbished town hall will provide more community space – something our residents have asked for – and we are also really delighted to be able to offer start up space for new businesses at reasonable rent in this building.”
The town hall refurbishment is part of a wider project to reduce Lambeth council’s core office buildings from 14 to two, saving at least £4.5million a year. There are also 219 new homes for rent and sale, of which 47 per cent will be affordable, including those recently completed in Wynne Road, Brixton.
The project will see the council’s new Civic Centre open further along Brixton Hill in March. Cllr Peck and Cllr Cameron were joined at the ribbon cutting by the project director Andrew Boyle from Muse and Cllr Paul McGlone, Lambeth’s deputy leader.
Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes also attended. In November, a topping out ceremony was held for Brook House which will have 48 affordable homes including 34 homes at social rent, as well as 46 private apartments. Brook House, behind the town hall was the former Lambeth council’s housing office.
