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Major London Festivals to proceed despite High court ruling
May20
In London, Lambeth Council has confirmed that a series of major music festivals scheduled for South
In London, Lambeth Council has confirmed that a series of major music festivals scheduled for South London’s Brockwell Park will go ahead as planned, despite a recent High Court ruling that deemed the current planning arrangements unlawful.
The ruling followed a legal challenge from local campaign group Protect Brockwell Park (PBP), which argued that the council overstepped legal limits by allowing the park to be used as a festival site for more days than permitted under planning regulations. The judge agreed, stating that the certificate issued by the council — which allowed more than 28 days of temporary use — was invalid.
Despite the decision, the council and event organisers behind the Brockwell Live programme say the legal issue is procedural and can be resolved by issuing a revised certificate for a shorter duration.
A statement published by Brockwell Live stressed that "no event will be cancelled as a result of the High Court’s decision."
The upcoming festivals, which include Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla, City Splash, and the Lambeth Country Show, are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees over several weeks. The council says it has already begun the process of issuing a new certificate to align with the legal time limit.
Campaigners, however, remain critical. Protect Brockwell Park argues that the scale of the events disrupts public access to the park and causes environmental harm, with up to 50% of the green space fenced off for extended periods. They also question whether private equity-backed promoters — such as Superstruct, ultimately owned by KKR — should be the main beneficiaries of events held on public land.
More than 3,000 residents signed a petition opposing Brockwell Live, and the group raised over £40,000 to fund its legal challenge. They say the festivals — while culturally valuable — are too large for the park’s size and ecological capacity, and they continue to call for a broader review of how events are managed in public spaces.
Supporters of the festival series argue that the events contribute positively to the local economy, celebrate diverse music communities, and generate much-needed revenue for the council, which can be reinvested into park maintenance.
While the legal setback has sparked a renewed debate over how London’s parks are used during summer months, Lambeth Council remains firm in its position that this year’s events will move forward under revised permissions. However, the ongoing controversy is likely to influence future decisions around the balance between commercial events and public access to urban green spaces.
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