29.01.09

EXTENDED CONSERVATION AREA TO INCLUDE 233 SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET

CONTROVERSIAL RECOMMENDATION WELCOMED BY CAMPAIGNERS

The full council of the London Borough of Hackney (LBH) confirmed last night (28.01.09) the recommendations of LBH's Cabinet and Conservation Officers to extend the borders of the existing conservation areas in Shoreditch to include significant buildings.

Shoreditch is an area of rich and varied history and architecture in need of urgent protection from the development pressures it currently faces.

OPEN Shoreditch welcomes LBH agreement with the objections OPEN Shoreditch raised in respect of the originally-proposed conservation area boundaries and in particular that LBH changed its position and agreed to the inclusion of Cleeve House and Cleeve Worskshops, the Old Street Magistrate's Court and 233 Shoreditch High Street (233 SHS) within the conservation area boundaries.

All of these buildings make a significant contribution to the unique character of the area and their preservation will further help the development of the leisure industries vital to the continuous regeneration and vibrancy of Shoreditch, as well as ensuring Shoreditch remains a fantastic place to live, work and visit.

We note the comments of Hammerson in respect of 233 SHS's inclusion within the conservation area boundaries. The proposed Bishops Place scheme, which currently involves the demolition of 233 SHS, does not have the support of the local community as demonstrated by the 1020 objections received by LBH to the proposed exclusion of 233 SHS from the conservation area.

The proposed scheme features less than the 50% affordable housing threshold set out in the London Plan and the bulk of the affordable housing provision will be located not in Shoreditch but elsewhere in the borough. The scheme is an overdevelopment of the site and will have a detrimental impact on the adjacent conservation areas as well as residential amenity in Shoreditch.

Rebecca Collings, co-chair of OPEN Shoreditch, states: "The City of London has an increasing glut of commercial property and with asset prices set to fall by 50% by the end of 2009 compared to peak prices in 2007, Hammerson's plans for Bishops Place make no economic sense, nor do they serve the needs of the community or respect Shoreditch's heritage. Hammerson need to come up with a brand new, financially-deliverable scheme containing a much greater amount of on-site social housing which is of a scale appropriate to its location adjacent to the newly-designated conservation area".

OPEN Shoreditch questions Hammerson's commitment to the area given recent press reports that it is currently in the process of marketing for sale the controversial Bishops Square development in Spitalfields. We also believe the Bishops Place scheme is not feasible in the current economic climate and will fail to deliver the employment benefits promised by Hammerson as a result. Hammerson had sought to demolish the buildings at 233 Shoreditch High Street through its possession proceedings against the current occupier before LBH had had time to consult with the local community and take on board its views as to whether the site should be included in the conservation area. This lack of regard for due process does nothing to engender good community relations nor ensure development outcomes that benefit all stakeholders.

OPEN Shoreditch supports an area-wide community planning process that involves all stakeholders in the future of Shoreditch. We look forward to this producing a revised scheme that retains the buildings at 233 Shoreditch High Street (as required by LBH's planning committee) and to working with Hammerson and LBH in respect of this site and any future development of the Bishopsgate Goodsyard.

OPEN Shoreditch is a coalition of local residents' and small business associations which seeks to ensure sustainable and sensitive development and regeneration.

Press contact:
Rebecca Collings
info@rebeccacollings.com
+44 7973 186426

31.11.08

SAVE SHOREDITCH WORKS WITH RIBA

In the final Save Shoreditch event of 2008, the RIBA game Building Futures came to Shoreditch. Building Futures is a community-based game to encourage and support local people and members of the Save Shoreditch to build an alternative vision for Shoreditch.

The event with RIBA addressed the numerous challenges facing Shoreditch and its future. It set out to achieve agreement as to a community based plan for the area that seeks to protect local character, advance the needs of local business and residential communities, promote diversity and a sustainable social and natural environment and go some way to achieving a ‘joined-up’ masterplan for Shoreditch.

Amanda Reynolds, local architect/urban designer and member of Save Shoreditch committee said ‘The game event with RIBA Building Futures has really helped us crystalise how it’s possible to develop the community’s vision for the area. While the Goodsyard site is central to our concerns, the focus of the day was looking at issues around young people, housing, green space, and encouraging families and local businesses to stay in the area. We see these goals as complementary to more commercially minded schemes on the table, and see the site as an opportunity to deliver amenities for the area alongside commercial and residential development. Using a framework and process such as the RIBA game can be successful way to develop an overall strategy that considers all stakeholders.’

The event is part of wider consultation that the group will be taking forward independently working with community and commercial partners.

 

15.08.08

PRE-CHRISTMAS SELLING EXHIBITION OF UNIQUE AND ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION
JUST DESSERTS
(the waitress strikes back)

• 15 - 30 November 2008
• Open daily 1200hrs-1900hrs (check website for variances)
• Gallery 32, Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3PB
• Open to the public
• Admission free

Just Desserts is compelling collection of amusing and incisive observations of restaurant clientele, presented as a pre-Christmas selling exhibition in Shoreditch, by the SAVE Shoreditch Campaign. These remarkable, witty cameos have been created by two waitresses that just happened to be professional illustrators toiling to make ends meet in some of the area’s best restaurants, until less than a year ago; using their own first-hand experiences of those they patiently served, they created their own Just Desserts” available for you to see and buy from 15-30 November 2008.
Every piece on show will be for sale, with prints starting at just £50 and signed originals up to œ250 making a personal and unique Christmas gift.

The Campaign

SAVE Shoreditch is raising funds to support its campaign for cohesive, positive regeneration and responsible place-making. It is lobbying for a joined-up masterplan of the area, one that carries tangible benefits for its Communities and residents.

The area involved encompasses Shoreditch, Bethnal Green and Brick Lane in London's vibrant, cultural heartland otherwise known to property developers as the City Fringe and into which they plan to extend miles of unwieldy office accommodation with high street style retail malls ... development that will undermine and overwhelm the neighbourhood.

The Artists

Just Desserts is the latest collaboration between Laura Quick and Anna Magnowska who are both now successful illustrators. We are, however, grateful to them for their candid legacy of portraiture drawn from less prosperous days gone by and the generously donation of a percentage of all sale value to the SAVE Shoreditch Campaign.

SAVE Shoreditch would also like to thank Origen Group, sponsors of Gallery 32 for their kind collaboration.

More information is available at Just Desserts.

08.07.08

Read Save Shoreditch’s open letter regarding The London Borough of Hackney’s conservation consultation, by clicking here

25.06.08

Thursday 3 July to Saturday 3 August 2008
Kemistry, 43 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3PD
Mon-Fri 09.30-18.00; Sat 11.00-16.00

Stop the Shadow - stop the City's take-over of London’s vibrant cultural heartland.

Proposed massive tower blocks on the City Fringe will dominate, overshadow and blight homes and businesses across Shoreditch and Brick Lane. Come along to this exhibition to find out more about how you can get involved.

Download more details here