Legal challenge over Brockwell Park festivals gains £31k in backing
A growing number of south Londoners are putting their names (and their wallets) behind a new legal challenge to stop large-scale festivals like Mighty Hoopla from taking place in Brockwell Park. Campaigners say the events are damaging one of Lambeth’s most treasured green spaces, and they’ve already raised over £31,000 in donations to support their case.
At the heart of the issue is the decision by Lambeth Council to issue a certificate of lawful development for commercial events in Brockwell Park. This would effectively allow the council to sidestep formal planning permissions when it comes to hosting music festivals and other large-scale gatherings. However, residents have pushed back. On 9th April, a group called Protect Brockwell Park sent a pre-action legal letter to the council, setting the stage for potential court proceedings.
The concern isn’t new, but the scale of support is. Through their CrowdJustice page, residents argue that events like Mighty Hoopla and City Splash have had long-term environmental consequences. They cite issues including damage to tree roots, overloaded toilets, soil compaction, and heavy vehicles cutting across public areas during set-up and take-down. Last year’s events saw 180,000 visitors over just six days, some of them held in heavy rain, further compounding the strain on the park.
“Our beautiful Brockwell Park is a haven for nature and of immense value to the people of Lambeth and Southwark,” said a spokesperson for the campaign group. “We’re not anti-fun, but these events are having a serious and lasting impact.”
The group’s concerns are practical and rooted in what they describe as a lack of transparency. They say Lambeth Council has not adequately consulted residents or responded to previous complaints. Their petition to end what they call the “fencing off and damaging” of the park has drawn more than 3,000 signatures so far, with over 800 people signing an initial objection letter to this year’s Event Permit.
Despite these challenges, the 2025 Mighty Hoopla is still scheduled to go ahead on 31st May and 1st June, with pop headliners Ciara and Kesha already announced. The event, which began in 2016 and has called Brockwell Park home since 2018, is known for its links to the LGBTQ+ community and its colourful party vibe. But some locals say that vibe comes at too high a cost.
The council’s position is still unclear, with official comment pending. However, questions about the long-term use of public spaces like Brockwell Park are likely to grow louder as more communities across London push back against commercial events in green spaces. For anyone wondering how this kind of event fits into UK planning law, there’s more background on planning permission requirements for public spaces.
For more updates on public space campaigns and park use across the capital, visit EyeOnLondon. We’d love to hear your views in the comments.
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