How this works

The Plan

Buying a market is not a metaphor. Here's what we've achieved, what it costs, how it will be owned, and what's still being worked out.

A man at the rally with BRIXTON tattooed across the back of his neck, the Brixton station sign and the crowd ahead of him.

The bid, and where it stands

On 22 June we submitted a competitive bid for Brixton Village and Market Row, backed by funders and by the money Brixton raised.

We are now confirmed as the preferred buyer. We now move exclusively to contract with the sellers.

We now have 8 weeks to complete due diligence and exchange contracts, then up to a further 4 months to raise the remaining funds and complete the legal and governance work to finalise the purchase.

Being the preferred buyer means we are the only party the sellers are negotiating with. It does not mean the purchase is complete.

How it will be owned

The market will be owned by the community. What that means in practice: traders and residents will have real votes, not just consultation. The market will be run for the benefit of the community that built it. Any surplus it generates will be reinvested in the market and the neighbourhood, rather than extracted as profit.

The legal structure that delivers all of that is being worked through right now by the traders, with the community and professional advisers. We will publish it in full once it is agreed.

Where the money goes

£50m is the price of the market. Money raised through the campaign goes towards the purchase itself and the professional costs of completing it: legal, financial and governance work that a purchase of this size requires.

Community fundraising sits alongside institutional commitments and social investment. No single source of funding will get us there alone; we need everyone’s help.

Plain language

What the Asset of Community Value listing actually does

On 7 July 2026, Lambeth Council listed the markets as an Asset of Community Value, after an application by the Stour Trust. In the campaign's own words: it's not a silver bullet. Here's what it does and doesn't do.

  • If the owners move to sell in a way that triggers the rules, the community gets a window (up to about six months) to prepare a bid before the sale can complete.
  • It does not force the owners to sell to the community.
  • It does not set or cap the price.
  • It does not guarantee a timeline. After the window, the owners can sell to anyone.
  • The listing gave the community protection and organising time while the sale process ran. The bid was always the plan, and the bid is what has given us the exclusive route to buy. Completing that purchase is now the priority.

Campaign status last updated Wednesday 9 September.