2026 – FOBP is asking Southwark Council to review policy for large events in Burgess Park.
- No events in Burgess Park during the six week summer holidays
- With installation, take down and potential damage to grass like 2025 the main area of the park is not usable. Events need to be before/after the summer holidays.
- Reduce the amount of space allowed for large events
- The event space which is offered by the council cuts across main pathways through the park; when these are fenced off it is too disruptive, if the event was smaller with fewer people less area would be needed.
- Noise impact – event size with 15,000 attendees a day is too big; two stages is too much noise, events over two back-to-back weekends – potentially Fri/Sat/Sun is too much. Current max decibels are too loud with local homes in immediate streets so close to the park.
Burgess Park is in a densely populated area, sound reverberates around the area; people in ground floor flats and high rise all suffer from the noise. The bass level needs managing to reduce impact. A more sophisticated sound monitoring is needed to understand the noise transmission between buildings.
We are asking Southwark Council to review the events policy for Burgess Park to reduce the impact of large music events. Burgess Park is used by thousands of people each week and is a vital green space especially during the summer holidays.
Summer 2025 large events – update
Community feedback consultation meeting: Burgess Park Events Stakeholder Debrief Meeting, which will be held at 18:00-19:00 on Wednesday, 15th October, at 1st Place Family Hub, 12 Chumleigh Street London, SE5 0RN. RSVP wearethefair@thecolumbogroup.com
Following the large music events August 2025 the council with events promoter is undertaking restoration of the grass.
FOBP view to the council Events team: The size and scale of the commercial events this year is too big; too much of the park is fenced off, the increased size of the crowd creates too much damage to the ground and grass.
2025 Music event July/Aug
Details about the 2025 event where the event will be at the park from Sunday 27 July to Fri 15 Aug, events from Fri 1 to Sun 10 Aug. See the consultation hub for more details. Project: Major scale commercial event application – Boil… | London Borough of Southwark Upto 15k attendance per day and a larger site for the event, but two community event days for the first time.
FOBP response to the consultation Feb 2025
More information on council consultation. Many of the FOBP comments on last years event have been addressed Boiler Room, Jazz Café and Maiden Voyage in Burgess Park | Southwark Council
FOBP want to see:
(i) a community stakeholder group set up and a more transparent process for consultation/feedback and engagement with residents around the park and park users,
(ii) a holistic approach to the costs/benefits of large events that looks at more then the income generated,
(iii) better park maintenance, tracking the impact on the park fabric and wildlife, and recovery.
(iv) recognition that due to the shape and size of Burgess Park any music event will be a short distance from people’s homes and the noise will impact.
Events dates and Southwark Council consultation
Find out more Ticketed events in parks | Southwark Council
Keep in touch with Southwark Council consultation on events by registering for information Ticketed events in parks | Southwark Council (bottom of page)
2023 planning application for 56 days filming and events in Burgess Park
Cllr Rose (Feb 2024) response to FOBP about large events – read the letter – the council will do more to manage noise, improve community benefits, and report on the financial benefits for all parks on an annual basis.
In 2023 Southwark Council Events applied for planning permission to extend the number of days for filming and large events in Burgess Park. Increasing the number of days from 26 to 56. Although the planning permission with various conditions was granted the council have decided to consult further, not currently increasing the days for events/filming.
Read Cllr Rose’s letter May 2023. This still means that some events are planned for 2023. Each event requires an “event licence” and consultation is undertaken for each event.
FOBP letter to Events on stakeholders and community benefit May 2023
FOBP response to the planning application for 56 days Jan 2023