Lambeth Council is working with the Brockwell Park Community Partners to consider the feasibility of Brockwell Hall as an events and wedding venue in order to raise funds for the park and building lost through the council’s culture cuts.
Lambeth Council and community group Brockwell Park Community Partners (BPCP) are considering new funding streams for Brockwell Park in the face of drastic cuts to park budgets from the council, including plans to turn Brockwell Hall into a wedding venue.
The project outlined in a recent feasibility study by Land Use Consultants (LUC) could cost up to £4m and suggests that Brockwell Hall would have “significant potential” as a venue for weddings, functions and corporate events.
LUC were commissioned by BPCP and Lambeth Council to carry out the study in line with the council’s plans to generate alternative revenue for parks following their decision to slash their funding by almost half. The council plans to hand off responsibility for park management and funding in the borough to local residents and groups such as BPCP. See a recent tweet below from Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Jane Edbrooke.
There are ambitious plans afoot for Brockwell Hall on how we preserve and maximise this lovely building pic.twitter.com/bGHfYXipCn
— Jane Edbrooke (@JaneEdbrooke) April 15, 2015
The study presents suggestions for redevelopment within and next to the Hall building, and concludes that “there is a good economic case for converting Brockwell Hall into an events venue while maintaining access for less/non commercial community events.”
The council’s proposed cuts to cultural services in the borough hits its green spaces the hardest, with money spent on parks reduced by almost 50% from £4.5 million spent in 2014/2015 to just £2.3 million proposed for 2017/18.
“The Hall needs to generate enough income to support it in the longer term as revenue funding for local councils continues to dry up,” said Ann Kingsbury, chair of the BPCP. “We commissioned the Feasibility Study to test our aim to restore the Hall and at the same time create an event venue in the stable yard…that would enable people to hold wedding parties and so on without interfering with public access.”
The study also proposed other options including a new cafe, office rental and exhibition space. The Feasibility Study reported that the potential changes to the building will not challenge the preservation of the heritage aspects of the Hall.
Current plans suggest the venue would be jointly managed by the council and BPCP, with initial funding potentially provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The approach has been well supported by all partner groups and the next step will be a public consultation.
About time. They should used wedding venues. It will be very popular.
The last thing we need are cars and vans flying through the park, it’s bad enough now.
Standard article written by Brockwell Park user: http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/andrew-neather-royal-parks-boom-means-pain-for-london-residents-10331863.html
Lovely spot for it in terms of views
But where are the cars going to go?
That in itself will destroy the park and it’s surrounds
We have asked if we could hire the space as a Lambeth Open venue. Still waiting for a reply.
A plan like this would mean constant cars and vans (private caterers, wedding guests etc) moving through our park during the day – possibly and night time too? And, presumably, a car park where the green is now. Who half-thinks up these ideas!? Do we really want to have a busy road running through the park, where children play and people walk and run? I’m in favour of making better use of Brockwell House, but perhaps a gallery, bar or theatre space would be better? Something that would only require pedestrian access would be far less disruptive to one of Lambeth’s most beautiful and peaceful places.
Agree with you And, access for weeding events would have a detrimental impact on the park, although the idea certainly looks the most lucrative of all those suggested, and money is of course very important, I think the benefits may be outweighed by the loss of seclusion, impact on safety for children and change in mood to the park. I am, like others, all in favour of a new, better café, gallery or museum, but I wonder their potential to raise enough money to make up the budget reduction that Lambeth have imposed.
I do wonder in general about these cuts being imposed by the council. Since we are at very low inflation levels, and council tax is also at a standstill, why are the cuts so brutal? Surely the level of cuts should represent the same levels as inflation, no? Perhaps someone can enlighten me.
I am really not a fan of the cafe in Brockwell Hall so think that anything (although preferably a nicer cafe) would be better.