Lambeth Council's General Purposes Committee has considered applications related to Rush Common, resulting in one refusal and no approvals for the 2025-2026 period. The committee met on Thursday, July 23, 2026, to review the annual report on Rush Common applications.
Rush Common is a protected area in Brixton, and the council has a duty to preserve its open character under the Rush Common Act of 1806. This duty is further supported by the London County Council (General Powers) Act 1947, which grants the Council powers to enforce the Act and give consent to buildings or erections on Rush Common land. Additionally, the Council's Rush Common Policy and Guidance Note
(February 2008) and the Protocol for Rush Common Applications and Enforcement
(July 2012) govern the process.
For the 2025-2026 period, three applications for Rush Common consent were received. One application was withdrawn, another was refused, and a third remains under consideration. No applications were granted approval during this time.
Applications and Decisions
Of the three applications submitted, one was for the retrospective application for the installation of gates at the Raleigh Gardens entrance on Brixton Hill (Reference: 25/00889/RUS). This application remains under consideration and is expected to be decided upon shortly. Notably, one councillor mentioned that this particular application has been outstanding for over a decade.
Another application was for the erection of a single-storey ground floor rear extension to the outrigger (Flat A) at 54 Josephine Avenue, London SW2 2LA (25/03289/RUS). This application was withdrawn.
The application for Rush Common consent at 2 Arodene Road, London SW2 2BH (26/01125/RUS), was refused. The proposal involved the removal of an existing garage and the erection of a two-storey side extension with loft space to create a new garage and storage/office room, including lowering the floor. This application was associated with a full planning permission application with reference number 26/00937/FUL.
Committee Considerations
The primary consideration for determining Rush Common applications is to maintain the open character of Rush Common land, a key objective of Lambeth 2030: Our Future, Our Lambeth Borough Plan. Proposals that also require planning permission must be determined in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), the London Plan (2021), and the Lambeth Local Plan 2020-2035 (2021).
Further details on the committee's proceedings can be found in the public reports pack for the meeting: Public reports pack Thursday 23 July 2026 General Purposes Committee.
The agenda frontsheet for the meeting is also available: Agenda frontsheet Thursday 23 July 2026 General Purposes Committee.