Brixton Station Road car park to become ice rink -

There should be much rejoicing on the streets of Brixton soon as one of its ugliest buildings looks set to be pulled down and replaced by a temporary ice rink.

Most of the area north of Brixton Station Road was redeveloped during the 1970s, with social housing and the unspeakably ugly multi-storey car park replacing the Victorian terraces. Here’s the hideous carbuncle deluxe in all its grey glory.

The bolted on high level walkway that towers above Popes Road.

Looking along Brixton Station Road towards central Brixton – you can see the same view from 1964 here and another archive view here.

I can’t wait to see the back of this building!

Read the discussion: Popes road car park to become temporary Ice Rink

Council statement

Here’s the full statement about the development from the council:

On 26 July the Council’s Cabinet agreed that the former Pope’s Road car park in Brixton should be used as the site for a temporary ice rink, whilst the permanent new Streatham rink is built.

The car park is already earmarked for demolition and Tesco are expected to submit a planning application for the temporary rink this summer. This could see the temporary rink up and running by next summer.

Parking arrangements within the Brixton area are also being reviewed so that parking is available where needed in the town centre.

The agreement for the temporary rink site is another hurdle jumped towards building the Streatham Hub and the provision of exciting new leisure facilities for Streatham residents.

Councillor Florence Nosegbe, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and the 2012 Games said: “Ensuring that the hub will include all the facilities residents need has always been a priority and central to negotiations. We are clear we want to build top class sports facilities including swimming pool and ice rink, with a temporary rink while the new one is being built.”

Councillor Sally Prentice, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning, Employment and Enterprise said: “This is a complex project and as such it has taken a while to come together but agreeing to put forward the disused Pope’s Road car park as a site for the temporary ice rink means that we have taken a step closer to the point where building will begin – and we could see work start early next year on the temporary ice rink. We are excited about these prospects for Streatham and are convinced that we can continue to deliver a state-of-the-art regeneration project even during these difficult economic times”.

www.lambeth.gov.uk/futurebrixton