Brixton market traders ‘in limbo’ after revelation that Hondo Tower was rejected by GLA

Brixton market traders have been left “in limbo” following revelations that the controversial Hondo Tower would have been rejected by the Greater London Authority (GLA) if a planned public hearing had taken place.

After huge public pressure, the plans for the proposed 20-storey Hondo Tower – to be built in the middle of Brixton in Pope’s Road – were to be considered at a public hearing by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan following approval by Lambeth council.

The hearing for the scheme was scheduled for June 10 last year, but was cancelled with a week’s notice. A new date has not been set.

Since then, a report by GLA planning officers has emerged from a Freedom of Information request which argues for a rejection of the tower.

All this has harmed traders’ mental health, said Dania Nardi, an activist for the Save Nour campaign group, as they fear they may be evicted if the proposals go through.

“It’s leaving everyone in limbo,” said the 50-year-old of Windrush Square. “The market, the Rec, the traders. This project will destroy them.

“Because Hondo owns Brixton market as well and traders are operating on different leases they need to know what is going to happen in six months or a year.

“Traders ask us every day what’s going to happen. It’s stressing them out. But there is still no date for a public hearing.”

The GLA report said: “The proposed 20-storey tower fronting Pope’s Road, by virtue of its height, scale and mass, represents an unacceptable form of development which would harm the character and appearance of the area.”

It adds that the plans would be “contrary” to the London Plan policy and National Planning Policy Framework.

Objectors to the 98 metre high tower include Historic England, the Victorian Society, MP Helen Hayes, the Brixton Society and 7,000 residents who signed a petition against the scheme.

Professor Michael Edwards, of Bartlett School of Planning, UCL and Just Space, said: “The Mayor of London’s officers seem to have come around to recommending refusal in line with the community objectors and partly on the grounds that it’s a tall building in a place not scheduled for tall buildings and thus in breach of London Plan policy D9.

“From the point of view of Just Space this is really important because the regulation of high buildings and of density in London now depend so heavily on the design and site allocation policies in plans and it’s crucial that the Mayor upholds these.

“Why on earth has the Mayor sat on this report since June? Is the developer being given more time to produce a compliant scheme?”

A spokesman for the Mayor of London, said: “The Mayor will hold a Representation Hearing in due course where he will consider the application against London Plan policies and other relevant considerations.”

Pictured top: A Fight the Tower poster outside Brixton underground station (Picture: Fight the Tower)