Hackney recommends private sector carve up of Dalston's "Cultural Quarter"

Tonight Hackney's Mayor and Cabinet will consider a report recommending that all decisions regarding selling off three sites in Dalston's "Cultural Quarter" to the private sector, should be delegated entirely to Council officers.  If approved, it means that the elected  Mayor and Councillor's will have no further say on any of the private deals reached and whether the public's interest has been properly secured.

Part of the former Tyer & Co railway engineering works at the back of the 10-14 Ashwin Street houses

As previously explained here,  the sites for sale comprise the three houses and the rear railway engineering works at 10-14 Ashwin St. In addition there are two vacant plots for development to be sold seperately or along with 10-14 Ashwin Street  - one at 2-8 Ashwin Street which Hackney demolished in 2010 and the second at 3-7 Ashwin St which was destroyed by bombs in World War II. Will there be a Council officer/private sector carve up of these sites without any democratic scrutiny?

 

Middle section of the former Tyer & Co railway engineering works at the back of the three houses at 10-14 Ashwin Street                        

The whole site at 10-14 Ashwin Street was purchased, in Hackney's name in 1985, with government grants and private charitable donations raised by the community educational charity Pyramid Arts Development Company Limited. Pyramid's aims were to encourage the arts including drama, ballet, music, singing, literature, sculpture and painting. It had a stellar line-up of creative people involved but sadly in 1994 financial difficulties forced its closure. (I'm told Hackney refused Pyramid a licence for live perfomance and a bar, so it became financially unviable Ed.). Since 2005 the buildings have been managed as artists studios by V22

Rear section of the former Tyer & Co railway engineering works overlooking the Eastern Curve Garden 

The UKGov grant to help purchase 10-14 Ashwin Street was intended to promote the arts for public benefit, and particularly to benefit the Black Community, not Hackney Council. But the report says Hackney will use the sale proceeds, not to promote the arts for public benefit, but "to bolster the financial resources allocated to projects within the Council's capital programme." It's Equality Impact Assessment states "No negative impacts have been identified as a result of this proposal". ( Hmmmm...As Hackney's Dudley Dryden said to me, when Hackney abandoned agreed plans for a Windrush African-Carribean Centre, "Even what they have will be taken away". Ed.)

Hackney is reported to have spent around £800,000 on doing major structural works and health and safety repairs to the engineering works over the last two years. But, just when its up for sale, Council officers are saying it's now unsafe, everyone must get out, and they are recommending purchasing £63,000 protective scaffolding to catch bits falling off the building.  Did the £800,000 come from Hackney's capital programme which now needs "bolstering". (Is the building more dangerous now than before Hackney spent a fortune on it? Ed.)

Also on the 10-14 Ashwin Street land is the Eastern Curve Garden's only indoor space -  its Hothouse meeting place, its office and a WC. The Council report speculates that "subject to survey and further ongoing investigations, to consider carving out this section" from the land to be sold. How will elected members ensure that the Garden's needs are protected if the private sector deal is left entirely to Council officers? There will be no democratic scrutiny or oversight.

The facades of Edwin Horner's three houses at 10-14 Ashwin Street which have been managed for promoting the creative arts since 1985.

10-14 Ashwin Street are townscape buildings within the Conservation Area and are locally listed as of special importance. The frontage 1870 houses were designed by notable Victorian railway architect Edwin Horne and the 1862 rear railway engineering works was where Tyer & Co produced their patented railway signalling system which was adopted thoughout England and in France.

  

Removal of the shabby white paint will reveal details on the facades including coloured brickwork banding, decorative stonework and barely twist metal columns

These buildings have been independently assessed by expert consultants to have HIGH industrial and architectural heritage value. Planning policies are in place which seek to protect historic architecture and creative uses but, if the site is acquired by mammonists, we can expect endless battles ahead trying to save our local cultural heritage

Local solicitor and founder of OPEN Dalston, Bill Parry-Davies, has written to Hackney's Cabinet raising these points and asking that his letter be given appropriate consideration. If you too have concerns, you can write to the Mayor of Hackney as well by emailing mayor@hackney.gov.uk