‘A green space for local people’: Residents oppose plan to extend Victoria Park festival season to 75 days

Lido Festival will have a maximum daily capacity of 35,000 for three days this summer. Photograph: LIDO Festival

The organiser of All Points East and LIDO festivals is seeking permission to use a third of Victoria Park for up to 75 days each summer — more than double the 28-day permitted development threshold currently in place — in an application that could run until 2032.

The proposal, by AEG Presents, is yet to be submitted.

However, Tower Hamlets Council has stressed the extension is required to “safely install and remove major infrastructure” and would not add any additional event days.

All Points East runs across six days in August (21–23 and 28–30), with a maximum daily attendance of 50,000, whilst LIDO festival runs from June 12-14, with a maximum daily attendance of 35,000.

This adds up to 11 major event days and eight community days in total.

But there have been complaints that the scale of the extension is unnecessary and alleged poor communication about the plans.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had been unaware of the community consultation meeting held on 19 February.

“My objection is to the sneakiness of it”, she said.

“The park was set up as the people’s park. It’s a green space for local people this effectively gets rid of about a third of it for the summer.

“It is the backyard of local people and for the local children — they’re losing their park for basically the summer.

“We don’t have any problem with the festival. I mean, I go [to it].

“The festival itself isn’t the problem. We’re asking for this extension and the number of days not to be granted.”

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “The council is currently validating the application and will publish it once confirmed as complete.

“After validation, it will follow the standard 13‑week assessment and consultation process before going to the development committee for a final decision.”

Maribou State will headline LIDO this year. Photograph: LIDO Festival

The spokesperson also referenced the “significant” community and economy benefits from the festivals being held in Victoria Park and said they are working closely with AEG Presents to “minimise disruption” caused by the festivals.

“The site will be de-rigged between the two festivals, as it has been in previous years. The 75‑day period being applied for includes contingency days. 

“This gives AEG essential flexibility for large‑scale builds, particularly if there are delays caused by poor weather or other operational issues.

“The proposed duration reflects the complexity of the events and the need to safely install and remove major infrastructure”.

Wide Awake festival, held annually at Brockwell Park in south London, has been cancelled for 2026 following a High Court ruling that found festivals at the park had exceeded the 28-day permitted development threshold — a decision that forced future events through full planning processes. The case highlighted growing tensions between large commercial festivals and the communities that surround them.

A 2020 study found that nearly half of London’s park friend groups objected to festival proposals, with restricted access and disruption to surrounding neighbourhoods the most common complaints.

Several groups reported parts of their park were inaccessible for up to seven months following major festivals, with the problem compounded in areas where residents had no private outdoor space.

The study also found that festivals bring more people into parks, diversify users and foster community cohesion, with several groups noting that income from large commercial events had been reinvested in park facilities and free community programming. 

“We remain committed to ensuring that our residency in the park provides significant benefits to the local community while minimising the impact on your daily lives”, reads AEG’s proposal.

“We are currently working closely with the council officers and our development consultancy team to put together the details for the application, including impact assessments and statements, together with effective management plans based on our experience of operating festivals on this site.”