Campaign launched to save Boxpark Shoreditch - updated

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​​.

Update (26 July):​ Following publication of this story, a statement was released by Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Delivery, Inclusive Economy & Regeneration on Hackney Council. He said: “Boxpark’s contribution to Shoreditch’s reputation as one of the capital’s most visited and well managed destinations has been exemplary and it’s plain to see how their experience in Shoreditch has enabled them to expand to other locations in the UK.

“Unfortunately, this is an entirely misdirected campaign. Boxpark was always intended as a temporary use for the site. Their energies should be focussed on discussing a solution with the owner of the site and the developers, not generating a row with planning authorities. Hackney and Tower Hamlets councils don’t own this site nor are they the developers. Neither council is able to use planning powers to delay progress on a development that has long held planning permission from the Mayor of London.

“Hackney remains open to continuing to assist with discussions with all partners to see if a solution can be found between owners, developers and Boxpark to extend the period it trades on the Shoreditch site before its move to Liverpool Street. We also understand that Boxpark will be offering its tenants premises in other Boxpark schemes in London, which we support.

“The redevelopment of Bishopsgate Goodsyard will bring significant benefits to Hackney and Tower Hamlets, including 500 homes, of which half are affordable, 9,000sqm of affordable workspace, 450sqm of affordable retail and start up space, a new public park, two new high streets, cultural infrastructure and £8.3m of community investment for Hackney. This investment has been in the making for two decades and is in jeopardy should work not commence. Its loss cannot be described - as it has been by some - as a ‘niche planning requirement’.”