Media centre

Wednesday 11 Feb 2015

Network Rail works with community to improve Brixton property

Region & Route:

| Southern

Following productive meetings with tenants in Brixton, Network Rail has agreed to work with businesses to make sure they have the opportunity to return after refurbishment work to the railway arches in Brixton.

The company, which owns and operates Britain’s railway infrastructure, is planning a multi-million pound refurbishment of a series of arches along Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road that are in desperate need of some basic TLC. The work will seek to enhance the unique character of the buildings and their setting.

A spokesman said: “We all want the same thing – a vibrant, thriving business area that maintains the uniqueness of this area.

“These arches are in desperate need of some basic TLC. We want to take the best of what’s currently there and make it even better.

Network Rail has just started a series of meetings and conversations with its tenants, and the wider neighbourhood, to better understand to the good and bad parts of the existing site and make-up and how the company can help make it better.

Existing tenants will be given the opportunity to return following the improvement scheme and in the meantime, the company will help identify new or temporary premises and will also help with expenses.

The refurbished arches will have rents that are fair and are set at or below the market rate for the area.

Additionally, we are looking at stepped rental increases over a period of time for affected occupiers that wish to return, giving them a greater level of certainty and ability to plan for their long term future in the units.

Network Rail will not be starting this improvement and investment project until the New Year to ensure that its tenants are able to take advantage of the coming Christmas

The company will be submitting a planning application for the arches later this spring and will not be giving notice to its tenants until later this year.