The O2 Brixton Academy can reopen after councillors voted to restore its licence.

Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed at the venue on December 15 last year when fans without tickets tried to enter a show by Nigerian artist Asake.

It faced permanent closure after the Met reportedly urged the council to remove its licence, having indicated it had no confidence in the company which owns the Academy to run it.

But following a two-day hearing, Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee has voted to allow the venue to continue operating – so long as it meets “77 extensive and robust new conditions”.

Despite this, Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, Lambeth Neighbourhood Police lead, said it has “never been” their aim to ask for the venue itself to be permanently closed.

He explained: “It has always been the aim of the Met Police to ensure that the venue is operated safely for the public, and it is run by a licensee who will take all necessary steps to ensure this is the case.”

Responding to the decision, Brixton Academy said it was “immensely grateful” to Lambeth Council and would reopen at first with test events.

The company which owns the Brixton Academy, Academy Music Group (AMG), told the committee it had developed new safety measures in an effort to have its licence restored, including stronger doors, a better queuing system and more secure ticketing.

AMG said changes to its operating policies had been developed by “leading professionals” to prevent a repeat of last year’s events.

The company, which has operated the venue for 20 years, has done “all in its power to analyse what went wrong”, the barrister representing AMG, Mr Philip Kolvin, added.

The venue has spent £1.2 million on maintenance and improvements in 2023, despite being closed, he added.

In a statement, the venue said: “We are immensely grateful to Lambeth Council and Lambeth Licensing Sub-Committee.

“We continue to be devastated by the events of last December. Our heartfelt condolences remain with the family and friends of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson. What happened was and is a tragedy and we are committed to ensuring that it can never be repeated.

“Over the past nine months, the venue’s importance to the local community and the live music scene in the UK has been made clear.

“Academy Music Group is determined to learn all appropriate lessons from the night of December 15, 2022.

“As the Licensing Sub Committee knows, the venue must implement all the new conditions and will reopen at first with test events. The commitment we give to work in close partnership with all the responsible authorities as we reopen is a serious and sincere one.

“There will be announcements on activity and a timeline in due course. We look forward to welcoming fans back to this iconic venue.”

Following the decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee, Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, Lambeth Neighbourhood Police lead, said:"Our thoughts today are with the loved ones of Rebecca Ikumelo, Gaby Hutchinson and the young woman who remains critically injured.

“Following the decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee, we will work with the applicant and Lambeth Council to ensure the public can once again enjoy events at the Academy - but in an environment where their safety is paramount.

“It has always been the aim of the Met Police to ensure that the venue is operated safely for the public, and it is run by a licensee who will take all necessary steps to ensure this is the case.

“It has never been our aim to ask for the venue itself to be permanently closed. We absolutely recognise the cultural importance of it and its place at the heart of Lambeth.

“Our investigation to establish the circumstances of what caused the tragic incident on 15 December 2022 is ongoing. We want to thank everyone who has already been in touch with information and encourage anyone else who was present to come forward and provide any information they may hold.”