Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum Newsletter – February 2026 

Victoria Park events and planning

AEG is seeking to extend the LIDO Festival and All Points East for another six years, with proposals potentially running until 2032. The proposal includes the use of Victoria Park for a total period of 75 days each year, including the period to construct and deconstruct the festival site.

Have your say:

On Thursday, 19th February between 2pm-8pm at The Ecology Pavilion, Mile End Park there is an informal public consultation exhibition organised by AEG presents (the organisers behind All Points East). Everyone is welcome to attend.

Separately, if you wish to express your opposition to the proposlas, there is a petition you can sign on change.org

https://www.change.org/p/cut-back-major-event-days-in-victoria-park-and-reclaim-our-summers

Planning Applications Now Required for 2026 Festivals in London Parks

1. Before 2025: Festivals operated under “permitted development rights”

For years, large day festivals in parks such as Brockwell Park and Victoria Park were allowed to go ahead without submitting a full planning application. Councils relied on permitted development rights, which allow temporary structures and events without the need for formal planning consent.

This meant events like Field Day, All Points East, and others could operate with event licences and park permissions alone.

2. 2025: A legal challenge overturned this system

In 2025, the campaign group Protect Brockwell Park (PBP) brought a legal challenge against Lambeth Council’s use of permitted development rights for the Brockwell Live festival series.

A High Court ruling quashed a key planning certificate, finding that the scale, duration, and recurring nature of the festivals meant they could not be treated as simple temporary uses.

This ruling had major implications:

• Councils could no longer rely on permitted development rights for large multi‑day festivals.

• Events now required full planning permission for temporary festival infrastructure.

• The ruling applied not just to Brockwell Park but set a precedent affecting other major London parks.

3. 2026: Planning applications required

Although the sources specifically mention Brockwell Park, the legal precedent affects all London local authorities, including Tower Hamlets (Victoria Park), Southwark, Hackney, and others.

The wider policy environment is therefore moving toward greater regulation of large‑scale events in public green spaces.

Petition opposing new Zone F

A petition to the Council opposing the introduction of the extensive zone F for tall building has been set up by the Neighbourhood Forum.

Please consider signing the petition. The deadline for signing is 28th February

You can find out more about the subject of tall buildings and the new Local Plan in the Forum website.