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Brockwell Park festivals in jeopardy after High Court ruling

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May 17, 2025
4 min read

Brockwell Park festivals in jeopardy after High Court ruling

A High Court decision has thrown summer festival plans in Brockwell Park into question, after campaigners successfully challenged Lambeth Council’s authorisation process. The ruling over the Brockwell Park festivals, which centres around the permitted use of public land, means the upcoming Brockwell Live event series, including popular fixtures like Mighty Hoopla, may not go ahead as planned.

The case was brought by members of Protect Brockwell Park, a local campaign group concerned about the growing scale and environmental impact of festivals in the park. They argued that the events, while culturally valued by many, were exceeding the legal limit for temporary land use without planning permission – a point focused on the 28-day cap under permitted development rules.

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The festivals, scheduled to begin at the end of May, would have spanned 37 days when including set-up and take-down. This formed the crux of the legal challenge. The judge sided with the campaigners, describing the council’s decision to issue a certificate allowing the events to go ahead as “irrational”. That certificate has now been quashed, placing the festival series in legal limbo just days before it was due to begin.

Brockwell Live draws more than 285,000 attendees across several days, with stages, trucks, and temporary fencing taking over large sections of the park. While the events have become a highlight in London’s cultural calendar – especially with shows like Mighty Hoopla celebrating inclusivity and LGBTQ+ communities – others have raised concerns about the long-term impact on trees, root protection zones, and access to green space for local residents.

The decision has been welcomed by campaigners, who say it’s about more than just one park.

“This isn’t just a win for Brockwell – it’s about making sure our public spaces aren’t handed over for private gain without proper scrutiny,”

said one supporter. Academy Award-winning actor Mark Rylance, who backed the campaign, praised the outcome and called for a return to open community events like the Lambeth Country Show.

Lambeth Council has said it is assessing the ruling and considering next steps. Festival organisers are understood to be doing the same. Whether events like Mighty Hoopla, headlined this year by Ciara and Kesha, will go ahead remains to be seen.

The legal debate over permitted development is likely to have wider implications for how councils across the UK manage public land. If the judgment stands, it may reshape what’s possible in parks not just in Lambeth, but throughout London and beyond. For those interested in how the capital balances cultural events with local green space, this ruling could mark a shift in expectations and practice.

You can read more about how local councils manage event licensing via this planning guidance on temporary land use which outlines the 28-day rule.

For more updates on Brockwell Park festivals and further insights into London’s public spaces, visit EyeOnLondon. We’d love to hear your views in the comments.

[Image Credit | Mighty Hoopla]