International House, based in the heart of Brixton, is the proud home of over 100 small charities and organisations supporting Lambeth residents with a multitude of services, including emergency food, mental health support, youth services, youth crime prevention, and HIV testing. Many of these organisations are able to carry out this vital work through peppercorn rent, made possible by 3Space’s ‘Buy One, Give One’ model.

On 24 March, the former Lambeth administration approved London Square Developments' proposal to convert International House into predominantly unaffordable housing, with an 84% net loss of workspace. This decision would displace more than 100 small organisations and deprive some of Lambeth's most vulnerable residents of essential services.

We believe that, on March 24th, Lambeth’s Planning Committee did not have sufficient evidence to make a fair and informed decision on the redevelopment. The Committee was unaware of all the organisations working in the building, the social value of their work, and the importance of the shared ecosystem that 3Space has organically built. The redevelopment was approved on the basis that 34% of the dwellings delivered would be affordable (a figure that is likely to decrease as updated viability assessments account for rising construction costs driven by the conflict in Iran), but this decision could not be made fairly without a proper assessment of the social value of International House, and a comprehensive understanding of what services Lambeth residents stand to lose through this proposal.

We are now raising £25,000 to cover the legal costs of bringing a judicial review against the Planning Committee’s decision. If successful, the redevelopment application would be remitted to the new Lambeth Planning Committee for approval or rejection. Members of the new Planning Committee, including Councillor Scott Ainslie, were vocally supportive of retaining International House prior to the 2026 elections, meaning that we can now hold them democratically accountable to that support.

Please share this crowdfund widely and help us Save International House. Thank you for your support!