David Duncan, chair of the Brixton Recreation Centre User Group, has responded to Hondo consultation’s, criticising the scale of the proposal and saying that it, “overshadows the REC both physically, architecturally, in urban design terms, and functionally, in its social, cultural and community role.”
Duncan’s criticism joins a chorus of objections from Brixton residents, with a petition against Hondo’s tower already gathering more than 5,700 signatures, and 1,190 objections to the proposed development being registered on Lambeth’s planning site.
Here’s the full text of his response;
Re: 20-10-21 response to Hondo consultation.
I write on behalf of the Brixton Recreation User Group (BRUG). BRUG was formed over fourteen years ago, for and by users of the Brixton Recreation Centre. BRUG is now recognised by both Lambeth Council and the Recreation Centre managers as an authentic representative voice for for Brixton Recreation Centre users.
BRUG successfully campaigned with Docomomo to gain Grade 2 listed protection for the Brixton Recreation Centre (REC).
The REC was listed for the buildings significance, both nationally and internationally. The significance included not only technical, architectural and urban design qualities but also it’s social, cultural and political context.
We believe the REC’s setting and significance will be seriously harmed by the proposal.
We also believe that insufficient attention has been given to the potential harm to the REC by the proposed new building, in both the planning process and advice provided by heritage advisors.
We believe the scale of the proposal over shadow’s the REC both physically, architecturally, in urban design terms, and functionally, in its social, cultural and community role.
Part of the significance of the REC today is that it continues to serve a disadvantaged and diverse community. It is very popular and serves a role far beyond the leisure and sports facilities it provides.
It is a living working hub for the all the local community .
This consultation period is focusing on the community provision proposed with in the new building. Consideration should be given to the harm the new building will cause to existing valued, and well used community resources, that already exist.
The new building will drastically change the demographic of the area directly adjacent to the REC.
The new building is proposed to provide high value accommodation. To be successful the development must attract affluent occupants.
This influx of affluent occupants may benefit the more up market shops and restaurants but will directly compete and displace less affluent and disadvantaged users of the REC. It is this community that BRUG was principally formed to defend.
This is also the community that was specifically being addressed when Lambeth Council planned and built the Rec as a community facility.
We believe as currently designed, the new proposal would seriously harm the listed status and significance of the Brixton Recreation Centre and the existing community of users that value and enjoy it facilities, and its role as a vital community hub.
Yours faithfully
David Duncan
Chair, Brixton Recreation Centre User Group.
Join the discussion
Join in with the lively forum discussions on the Brixton forum:
- The Brixton Project (formerly Brixton Design Trail) and Hondo
- Hondo’s huge plans for Pope’s Road, Brixton (over 300 posts)
- Brixton Village, Market Row, Pope’s Road, Lost In Brixton and Hondo Enterprises’ Brixton empire (over 380 posts)
Have your say about the development
- Make an objection on Lambeth’s planning site
- Fill in an online objection postcard
- Petition: Stop Hondo Enterprises building a 20-storey tower in the central Brixton heritage area
- How to object to a planning application – an essential guide to getting your voice heard
- Follow @NoHondoTower on Twitter
Background
- Fight The Tower: over 1,000 planning objections and 5,000 signatures registered against Hondo’s proposed 20-storey tower in central Brixton
- Grade 2 listed Brixton Recreation Centre ignored in planning assessment for proposed 20-storey tower in central Brixton
- Brixton’s Hondo Enormo-Tower: where a structural column becomes ‘an interactive fireplace’ and an ‘art piece’
- Hondo tweak the design of their Brixton 20-storey Enormo-Tower with groovy happenings and foliage galore
- Hondo start soliciting signatures in the street to support their unpopular Brixton Enormo-Tower
- Lambeth Planning Committee votes 5-2 in favour of deferring Hondo Enormo-Tower application for Pope’s Road in Brixton
- Brixton MP Helen Hayes urges Lambeth Planning to reject the proposed Hondo Enormo-Tower
- Historic England slam Hondo Enormo-Tower’s ‘significant harmful visual impact’ on Brixton ahead of Lambeth Planning meeting
- Lambeth Officers recommend approval for controversial Hondo Enormo-Tower along Pope’s Road ahead of Planning Applications Committee
Who’s behind the development?
The planning application says that the scheme “is a joint venture by AG Hondo Pope’s Road BV who have an agreement to purchase the site, currently occupied by Sports Direct and Flannels.”
It goes on to claim that Hondo is part of a property development company who have a “longstanding presence in the borough having purchased Market Row and Brixton Village” in, err, “March 2018.”
Housekeeping DJ and socialite Taylor McWilliams – the sole director of Hondo Enterprises who own Brixton Village and Market Row – is also a director of AG Hondo Pope’s Road BV, along with Robert Tieskens, a director of the Netherlands arm of the monster New York based investment company, Angelo Gordon.
Read more
- Brixton for sale: who are Hondo Enterprises, owners of Brixton Village, Market Row, Club 414 and more?
- Privilege, wealth and power: Brixton landlord Taylor McWilliams and his Housekeeping DJ Collective
- Brixton anti-gentrification crowdfunder raises over £10,000 in one day, as locals decry landlords Taylor McWilliams and Hondo