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Tower Hamlets council rejects Time Out Market development proposal Tower Hamlets council rejects Time Out Market development proposal
(35 minutes later)
Residents in east London have expressed relief after plans for a huge eating and drinking establishment in the area under the Time Out banner were rejected by Tower Hamlets council.Residents in east London have expressed relief after plans for a huge eating and drinking establishment in the area under the Time Out banner were rejected by Tower Hamlets council.
The proposal would have seen the development of a 17-restaurant, four-bar site with seating for about 450 people across four floors, on the site of former stables in Commercial Street, neighbouring residential properties. The proposal would have seen the development of a 17-restaurant, four-bar site with seating for about 450 people across four floors on the site of former stables in Commercial Street, neighbouring residential properties.
Time Out had announced its plans as a done deal in October, when it said online: “London’s very own Time Out Market will open at 106 Commercial Street in the second half of 2017.” The venue would have been open seven days a week, from 8am to 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays, with an expectation of at least 2,000 visitors a day.Time Out had announced its plans as a done deal in October, when it said online: “London’s very own Time Out Market will open at 106 Commercial Street in the second half of 2017.” The venue would have been open seven days a week, from 8am to 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays, with an expectation of at least 2,000 visitors a day.
It was intended to follow in the footsteps of the media organisation’s first market, which opened in Lisbon in 2014, becoming the city’s most popular tourist destination, attracting 2 million visitors a year. It was intended to follow in the footsteps of the media organisation’s first market, which opened in Lisbon in 2014 and has become the city’s most popular tourist destination, attracting 2 million visitors a year.
On Tuesday night, after receiving more than 70 written objections and hearing impassioned speeches warning of the adverse impact on the local community, the licensing subcommittee unanimously voted against it, although Time Out has said it would appeal against the decision. On Tuesday night, after receiving more than 70 written objections and hearing impassioned speeches warning of the adverse impact on the local community, the licensing subcommittee unanimously voted against it, although Time Out has said it will appeal against the decision.
Spitalfields Society chair, Rupert Wheeler, said residents had “won a significant battle in their fight to preserve the unique character of their area against a rising tide of over-development and mass proliferation of drinking establishments leading to increased crime and antisocial behaviour”. The Spitalfields Society chair, Rupert Wheeler, said residents had “won a significant battle in their fight to preserve the unique character of their area against a rising tide of overdevelopment and mass proliferation of drinking establishments leading to increased crime and antisocial behaviour”.
Speaking at the packed meeting, he had described the prospect of 450 people exiting onto the street at closing time on a busy road junction as “quite horrendous”. Speaking at the packed meeting, he described the prospect of 450 people exiting on to the street at closing time on a busy road junction as “quite horrendous”.
Objectors to the London plan claimed it was significantly different to the Portuguese venue, which is on the outskirts of the city in a non-residential area. By contrast, the site of the proposed London market has 18th-century silk-weavers’ houses around it as well as homeless hostels. Critics of the London plan said it was significantly different to the Portuguese venue, which is on the outskirts of the city in a non-residential area. By contrast, the site of the proposed London market has 18th-century silk-weavers’ houses around it as well as almshouses, which still house vulnerable people.
It also lies within a cumulative impact zone (CIZ), an area where a local authority deems the number of licensed premises is having an adverse impact. Implementing a CIZ allows a council to create a presumption of refusal of new licences. It also lies within a cumulative impact zone (CIZ), an area where a local authority deems the number of licensed premises as having an adverse impact. Implementing a CIZ allows a council to create a presumption of refusal of new licences.
The Brick Lane CIZ, sponsored by the Metropolitan police, was introduced in 2013 amid concerns about high levels of violent and alcohol-related crime, street drinking and other antisocial behaviour in the area.The Brick Lane CIZ, sponsored by the Metropolitan police, was introduced in 2013 amid concerns about high levels of violent and alcohol-related crime, street drinking and other antisocial behaviour in the area.
Jeremy Freedman, a resident who also sits on the Spitalfields Society committee said it was a “landmark decision” in response to a record number of objections locally. “We are definitely not nimbys,” he said. “We are open to restaurants opening and creatives opening – it’s part of the dynamic of this area – but this would have allowed the largest-ever drinking and eating establishment ever opened in London. It’s madness and I think the council has thought enough is enough.” Jeremy Freedman, a resident who also sits on the Spitalfields Society committee said it was a “landmark decision” in response to a record number of objections. “We are definitely not nimbys,” he said. “We are open to restaurants opening and creatives opening – it’s part of the dynamic of this area – but this would have allowed the largest drinking and eating establishment ever opened in London. It’s madness and I think the council has thought enough is enough.”
A spokeswoman for Time Out, which has also announced plans to open a market in Miami next year, said: “We are disappointed that our licence application was rejected at the first hearing with the Tower Hamlets licensing subcommittee. Since our initial application, we have worked diligently to listen to the local community and to take their suggestions on board in order to agree on a way forward together.” A spokeswoman for Time Out, which has also announced plans to open a market in Miami next year, said: “We are disappointed that our licence application was rejected at the first hearing with the Tower Hamlets licensing subcommittee. Since our initial application, we have worked diligently to listen to the local community and to take their suggestions onboard in order to agree on a way forward together.”