At-risk traders anxious despite court reprieve

Traders at a south London market say they are fighting for survival after being told to leave their businesses to make way for a supermarket.

Business owners at Brixton Plaza were given just four weeks' notice to leave, but this has since been overturned following a High Court injunction which ruled they were entitled to proper notice and protection from eviction.

Despite the legal decision, concerns remain high among traders, with many worried about their future and "starting all over again".

The BBC approached the building's owner, Governside Ltd, for comment, but has received no response.

A letter, seen by the BBC, to tenants by Brixton Plaza management claims the landlord had signed a new lease with Aldi, which would take over Brixton Plaza and the Bernard's charity shop after offering what was described as a "very high rent".

Tenants were told their deposits would be used to cover March's rent and that all belongings must be removed and warned that legal action and bailiffs could be used if traders did not leave by the deadline.

The eviction notices relied on documents described as "tenancies at will" - informal, short‑term occupation of property that can be ended at any time by either the landlord or the tenant - but the legal firm Leigh Day argued the traders were operating under full commercial leases.

The group of 27 independent traders were granted an injunction preventing the evictions for now, citing their long‑standing occupation of the site.

Faiven Michael has run an Eritrean café at the market for six years. She said the eviction notice had left her devastated.

"Very sad, really. I feel empty because this is my business, this is my life," she said.

Moving her business elsewhere in London would be difficult because of high costs, she added.

"I cannot afford it now."

Hair and beauty trader Catalina Paul, who opened her salon at Brixton Plaza in 2019, said she was worried about losing loyal customers if forced to leave.

"It makes you think about the next step, how hard it could be after you build something up and then have to start all over again.

"My customers are close to me. They become like family," she said.

In a statement, Lambeth Council said it was not involved in the decision to evict tenants following the approval of planning permission on 4 March.

"It is unfortunate the landlord has chosen to take this course of action in relation to its tenants," the council said.

"The owner of the building in question has gained planning permission to refurbish this historic building's shop fronts.

"Decisions about how the interior is rented out is nothing to do with this planning permission."

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