Last Friday 26th October was the day when traders in the Ridley
Road Shopping Village were to be evicted. They had been given 14 days notice to
get out, by the management company which collected the rents in the covered
market. Many of the traders have been there for years.
But, following an effective community campaign, instead
of changing the locks that day the management company handed back its lease to
the owners of the building - Larochette Real Estate Inc, a company
registered in the British Virgin Islands. The Village traders now have an off-shore company landlord.
Larochette had bought the site for £6.5million in November 2016. Little is known about Larochette
itself but it's UK contact address is also the registered
office of Rainbow Properties Limited. Rainbow's director, Guy Ziser, is also a
director of two other companies (Neuva and Rosetree) which in 2015 appeared to have shareholdings
in a British
Virgin Islands company called Maple Ash limited.
Image of the planned redeveloped Ridley Road Shopping Village, designed by Jestico and Wyles, who also designed 57East - the tower next to Kingsland Station - which can be seen in the background of this image
Rainbow is seeking planning permission to turn the Ridley Road Shopping Village into offices and shops plus 10 "high quality duplex apartments" ( AKA luxury flats - Ed.) on the 1st and 2nd floors and new third floor.
Image of the planned redeveloped Ridley Road Shopping Village, designed by Jestico and Wyles, who also designed 57East - the tower next to Kingsland Station - which can be seen in the background of this image
Rainbow is seeking planning permission to turn the Ridley Road Shopping Village into offices and shops plus 10 "high quality duplex apartments" ( AKA luxury flats - Ed.) on the 1st and 2nd floors and new third floor.
Rainbow's Planning Statement describes the Ridley Road Shopping
Village as already vacant. In fact the Village is occupied by about 20 traders on the ground
floor, about 60 artists on the 1st and 2nd floors and provides storage for
barrows and stock for the market's street traders.
Some traders panicked when they got the eviction notice and held a "fire sale" of their stock and left
Rainbow's redevelopment plans first came to public attention during the DalstonArts150 open studios event last September when the artists announced they had been asked to vacate by 31st December . Next there was a police raid, when drugs were found at one of the units. The management company then issued an eviction letter to all of the traders. Its letter referred to a discussion with Hackney and the police regarding a Closure Order, and a police notice being served on management, so that "We have no alternative but to CLOSE...in any event our landlord's intention is to demolish the building shortly".
In fact there was no Closure Order - the police had simply
required the management company to meet conditions which would reduce local
crime. Hackney Mayor Glanville was quick to express concern, describing the
managers action as "misleading and a betrayal...an excuse to close the
market early". But the managers did not meet the police requests nor withdraw the
traders' eviction notices.
Rainbow's redevelopment plans first came to public attention during the DalstonArts150 open studios event last September when the artists announced they had been asked to vacate by 31st December . Next there was a police raid, when drugs were found at one of the units. The management company then issued an eviction letter to all of the traders. Its letter referred to a discussion with Hackney and the police regarding a Closure Order, and a police notice being served on management, so that "We have no alternative but to CLOSE...in any event our landlord's intention is to demolish the building shortly".
When news of the 14 day eviction notice got out, there was a
public outcry. Within days a petition had been signed
by over 8,000 people expressing disgust at the traders' treatment.
A deputation of traders went to Rainbow's offices to complain about their
treatment.
The traders formed an Association and instructed solicitors who
informed the management company and Rainbow
of the traders legal right to a minimum 6 months notice and that they "are not
required to and are unwilling to give up possession". A
Court injunction application was threatened.
And so, instead of evicting the traders last Friday, the
management company handed back its lease to the owner, Larochette Real Estate
Inc., which has now become the new landlord
of the traders remaining in
business.
Image of the planned redeveloped Ridley Road Shopping Village with front ground floor shops and luxury flats above
One exception to business tenants security of tenure is where the landlord intends to redevelop the property and cannot reasonably do so with the tenants in occupation. Redevelopment requires planning permission and so the local planning policies for Ridley Road market, and whether planning permission will be granted, are critical to these traders' futures.
Image of the planned redeveloped Ridley Road Shopping Village with front ground floor shops and luxury flats above
One exception to business tenants security of tenure is where the landlord intends to redevelop the property and cannot reasonably do so with the tenants in occupation. Redevelopment requires planning permission and so the local planning policies for Ridley Road market, and whether planning permission will be granted, are critical to these traders' futures.
Image of the planned redeveloped Ridley Road Shopping Village with rear ground floor offices and luxury flats above
The Shopping Village is just one of the sites in Ridley Road which is potentially facing re-development. We have already seen one planning application granted for luxury flats - although this was later overturned by the Courts. Other applications are in the pipeline.
It wont be the first time Ridley Market traders have been told to "get out". Our local community has battled for years to keep our street market .The community must remain vigilant and active if the type of affordable street market we currently have -"the beating heart of Dalston" - is to continue.
UPDATE: 1st November 2018: This piece in the Hackney Gazette reports that Rainbow have now taken over management of the Ridley Road Shopping village , that "Traders will now stay for another six months at least" and that Mayor Glanville has informed Rainbow to revise their planning application because "the renovation should benefit existing traders and local residents".
What are the other planning applications for Ridley Road that are in the pipeline? Who are the owners and developers and what stage are the applications at? Is this info available anywhere?
ReplyDeleteApplications and decisions can be found by searching Hackney's Planning database by Address. Pre-application discussion between developers and Council planners can be sought by Freedom of Information Act requests addressed to Hackney's Head of Planning
ReplyDeleteOften planning applications are not widely consulted upon and decided under officer's delegated powers without going for a Committee decision in public eg 75 Ridley Road.
Our local CAAC has indicated that whether a planning application goes before a Planning Committee or is decided by the officer (whose report may or may not be accurate, balanced or misleading) depends on how many objections to the application have been received by the Council. Is this true and, if so, on what is that based?
ReplyDeleteIf true, then breadth of consultation would appear to be crucial and any lack of effective local consultation, an error which could potentially invalidate an officer's decision.
Hackney does not generally consult widely on applications, hence many pass through unnoticed when its too late. If you want to keep an eye on what's happening in your area try this: https://www.planningfinder.co.uk/about
DeleteHackney's practice seems to be to grant applications under delegated powers once the planning officer's are satisfied. They will only refer the application to Committee if they are recommending approval and only then if it's a major application or there are significant numbers of objections. That's why we need to be vigilant
Although the relationship between Larochette and Rainbow Properties maybe unclear, the website for Ziser, Guy Ziser's family property company (and developer of the Allpress building in Dalston Lane), refers prominently to "organic growth", longer term sustainable development, respect for local history and the critical importance of ... beauty. So not quite your usual developer and perhaps grounds for cautious optimism!
ReplyDeleteBless. But you'll also notice their investment in buildings of architectural and historic merit is because these "even in secondary locations can attract high quality tenants" ie a secure rental stream. So not solely virtuous
DeleteThe Ridley Road Market Traders Association on behalf of the market traders raised a comment of concern as part of the Planning Application. We made it clear that we expect any development should ensure no disruption was caused to both the traders and customers of the market. Also that any market trader whose pitch was in close proximity to the development would not be forced to move pitch. In summary that the development should fit in with the daily running of the market. Not the other way around.
ReplyDeleteQuite a few of the buildings on this street are owned by off-shore companies. Have you not read the Paradise Papers? Was amazed to find out that my landlord was not a housing association but a Guernsey-based off shore investor. This is why the car park on Ridley Road is derelict and a centre for flytipping because the freehold owner is not paying tax and can't be bothered, not interested in the local community and has already had a preliminary application for the 33 unit building here to the demolished for luxury apartments. I believe our building has been flipped to a different shell company and the current lead director is a Portuguese entrepreneur who is in partnership with the same Essex-based property developers who took over the freehold. The freehold owner is refusing to conduct repairs on our building so corridors have been flooded with water, leaking roofs and my flat was flooded with sewage (yes!) last November because there is an ongoing fault with the stack pipes and the freeholder and our landlord (a housing association) are in dispute about conducting structural repairs.
ReplyDelete