Brixton Green Community Land Ltd is a non-profit community benefit society established by local residents in Brixton in 2008. 25 The organisation was founded by Philippe Castaing and Brad Carroll, who were local residents and business owners. 11 It became a community benefit society, or mutual organisation, in 2009.
Its primary purpose has been to ensure that local people influence the redevelopment of Somerleyton Road in Brixton, south London. 512 The organisation campaigned for five years before persuading Lambeth Council in 2013 to develop the site in partnership with the community. 512 Its work has included public meetings, consultation events, workshops with schools and community groups, door-to-door engagement, and the development of community-led housing and long-term management arrangements. 513
Brixton Green has built a membership of more than 1,200 people who live or work in Brixton. 5 Membership is open to people aged over 16 who live or work in one of Brixton’s five wards, with one £1 share and one vote per member. 5 The society has no paid staff; its director and trustees work voluntarily, and board members are elected from the membership, with limited provision for co-opted trustees with relevant skills. 5
The organisation’s principal project is the Somerleyton Road development, planned in partnership with Lambeth Council. 12 Brixton Green established the Somerleyton Trust as a separate charitable company intended to lead the development and hold the site for community benefit. 12 The organisation’s geographic scope is therefore local, focused on Brixton and particularly Somerleyton Road, rather than operating nationally or internationally. 512