View of Truman Brewery from Buxton Street, next to the development site.
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Save Brick Lane Campaign have opened an exhibition to continue their fight against Truman Brewery developments.
Located in Tower Hamlets, Brick Lane is also known as Banglatown.
The exhibition displays photographs, a short film and details the history of Brick Lane and the campaign.
In 2020, the Save Brick Lane campaign began protesting against a shopping centre on Brick Lane. After the council approved the development, the group took a case to the Supreme Court. They are still awaiting a judgement.
Three new planning proposals were submitted in August on the Truman Brewery site.
The coalition of community groups under the banner of Save Brick Lane “reject this soulless corporate style development”.
A member of the campaign told City News that they are concerned about the time pressure on the campaign. The campaign is fighting three new development proposals alongside waiting for the verdict from the Supreme Court.
Loss of culture or good for business?
Taj Supermarket CEO, Jamal Khalique is “all for it”. He believes that the development will improve Brick Lane as a whole.
He previously objected to earlier futuristic designs that would have “stuck out like a sore thumb” in the local area.
Younger employees at Beigel Shop, the oldest beigel bakery on Brick Lane, were conflicted.
“It’s a sort of double edge sword”, they said. They believe there could be positive benefits for their business but worry that the new office blocks would “gentrify the area more and eliminate the culture that people come here for”.
Brick Lane curry restaurants are already in decline. A 2020 Runnymede report published that there had been a 62% decrease in just 15 years.
Concern over housing shortages
Local business owner, Azmal Hussain, wants social housing built on the site. Concerned about housing shortages in the area, Hussain believes Brick Lane is already “too crowded” and supports prioritising housing developments over commercial spaces.
Social and affordable housing is a key principle the council must consider for planning applications as set out in the new Spitalfields and Banglatown Masterplan SDP (supplementary planning document).
Tower Hamlets Council reports that over 19,000 households are on the housing register.
According to ONS data, Tower Hamlets’ population had the greatest percentage increase in England between 2011-2021.
The Spitalfields Trust’s assessment of the proposals welcomed development of the “derelict and under-used land” but voiced concerns about limited housing proposals.
What next?
Truman Brewery have been approached by City News for comment.
Locals await a decision by Tower Hamlets’ planning committee in the coming months.
The exhibition is running every Saturday and Sunday until 22nd December at Kobi Nazrul Centre.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineLocals Disagree over Brick Lane Development
Short HeadlineLocals disagree over Brick Lane development
StandfirstSave Brick Lane Campaign believe Truman Brewery planning application "offers almost nothing to local community".
Save Brick Lane Campaign have opened an exhibition to continue their fight against Truman Brewery developments.
Located in Tower Hamlets, Brick Lane is also known as Banglatown.
The exhibition displays photographs, a short film and details the history of Brick Lane and the campaign.
In 2020, the Save Brick Lane campaign began protesting against a shopping centre on Brick Lane. After the council approved the development, the group took a case to the Supreme Court. They are still awaiting a judgement.
Three new planning proposals were submitted in August on the Truman Brewery site.
The coalition of community groups under the banner of Save Brick Lane “reject this soulless corporate style development”.
A member of the campaign told City News that they are concerned about the time pressure on the campaign. The campaign is fighting three new development proposals alongside waiting for the verdict from the Supreme Court.
Loss of culture or good for business?
Taj Supermarket CEO, Jamal Khalique is “all for it”. He believes that the development will improve Brick Lane as a whole.
He previously objected to earlier futuristic designs that would have “stuck out like a sore thumb” in the local area.
Younger employees at Beigel Shop, the oldest beigel bakery on Brick Lane, were conflicted.
“It’s a sort of double edge sword”, they said. They believe there could be positive benefits for their business but worry that the new office blocks would “gentrify the area more and eliminate the culture that people come here for”.
Brick Lane curry restaurants are already in decline. A 2020 Runnymede report published that there had been a 62% decrease in just 15 years.
Concern over housing shortages
Local business owner, Azmal Hussain, wants social housing built on the site. Concerned about housing shortages in the area, Hussain believes Brick Lane is already “too crowded” and supports prioritising housing developments over commercial spaces.
Social and affordable housing is a key principle the council must consider for planning applications as set out in the new Spitalfields and Banglatown Masterplan SDP (supplementary planning document).
Tower Hamlets Council reports that over 19,000 households are on the housing register.
According to ONS data, Tower Hamlets’ population had the greatest percentage increase in England between 2011-2021.
The Spitalfields Trust’s assessment of the proposals welcomed development of the “derelict and under-used land” but voiced concerns about limited housing proposals.
What next?
Truman Brewery have been approached by City News for comment.
Locals await a decision by Tower Hamlets’ planning committee in the coming months.
The exhibition is running every Saturday and Sunday until 22nd December at Kobi Nazrul Centre.
