The campaign, which is being spearheaded by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), calls on Hackney Council to ‘fulfil its duty to safeguard Boxpark Shoreditch’, saying that the site is ‘on the brink of being lost due to bureaucratic red tape’.
“Boxpark Shoreditch exemplifies the exact issue faced across the country with red tape and restrictive regulatory controls stalling business investment,” says Michael Kill, CEO of the NTIA.
“This has to stop. People are fed up. The new government has made an amazing start, and I call on them to reach into the local authority and invigorate the local planning department and Hackney Council to find a solution.”
Boxpark Shoreditch announced earlier this month that it would close having launched at the Bishopsgate Goodsyard site near Shoreditch High Street station back in 2011 as a ‘meanwhile use’ scheme.
The group, which operates other London sites in Croydon and Wembley, reached the expiration of its lease in Shoreditch earlier this year and notice on the premises was subsequently served by landlords Bishopsgate Goodsyard after planning permission was granted by the Mayor of London for the redevelopment of the 4.5 hectare site.
Boxpark subsequently entered into negotiations to extend occupancy of the site with landlords Bishopsgate Goodsyard, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets, but later announced that it would vacate the premises by the end of the summer.
“Despite our relentless efforts in collaboration with the GLA, Hackney Council, and our landlords BGY, we must close due to a planning requirement,” says Roger Wade, founder of Boxpark.
“Unfortunately, the developers will not start building immediately, which makes this decision even more disheartening, especially since our neighbours Power league received an extension.
“Since its launch in October 2011, Boxpark Shoreditch, the world’s first pop-up, has created over 1,000 jobs, contributed more than £80m each year to the local economy and over £1bn since opening, launched hundreds of new independent businesses, and welcomed over 10 million visitors.
“We have initiated a campaign to save Boxpark Shoreditch. Your help and support would be greatly appreciated.”
The campaign calls on members of the industry to sign an open letter to Hackney Council warning that the closure of Boxpark Shoreditch would ‘not only impact the businesses and individuals directly involved, but would also signify a major setback in the ongoing regeneration efforts in Shoreditch’.
A copy of the letter will also be sent to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds.
To view the campaign page, click here.
Restaurant has contacted Hackney Council for comment.
