Brixton's Railway Arches and London's ‘Gentrification War’

The diversity of the ethnically varied district of Brixton is being threatened by gentrification in the area, Buzzfeed News reports.

Trading businesses beneath the arches of the railway are closing down as the Network Rail plans to remodel the area and then raise the rent around two to three times the current average rate. Brixton’s ethnic diversity is due to the area’s heavy influence from immigrant communities, many of which will be pushed out by this gentrification process. Despite protests, campaigns, and a petition gaining over 28,000 signatures against the plans many business owners will still be forced to leave.

Similar instances of gentrification can be seen all over London in areas like Croydon and Shoreditch. Reporter Patrick Smith asks, “What does this process of gentrification in Brixton say about how the capital as a whole is changing?” The effects of these actions on ethnic minorities are bound to be seen in the coming months.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/

Mary Schlichte