STOP PRESS

We’re getting reports that FEC may be considering, or have even carried out a sale of the Town Hall. More as we get it. We cannot confirm anything as yet.

https://greenstreetnews.com/article/fec-sells-historic-hornsey-town-hall/

(hat tip John Cully), January 2025.

We imagine the community haven’t failed to notice that the project is bedevilled by delay. As a consultant to the scheme observed, rare is it that a project has gone through planning so quickly yet taken so long to build. The delays have apparently taken their toll on the chief stakeholders too, with the relationship between developer and construction company at rock bottom and the newly reported loss of the original arts operator. We await concrete news that FEC have now got it together, and have appointed partners that can bring things to fruition. The continued and complete absence of communication is unacceptable.

In contrast, we should not overlook project successes, particularly the long-awaited restoration. It was positive to see that after 20 years HTH has been removed from the new Historic England At-Risk Register (interestingly, Stoke Newington TH has been added, despite a multi-million refurb 10 years ago; conclusion? You cannot hope to maintain buildings like this simply by running community events and weddings…).

   Images credits: FEC, Make architects

Timetable

We believe the build to be close to completion and undergoing testing and review (if not already completed). With the residential units done (and mostly occupied), the remaining tasks are to carry out an arts centre fit-out and open the hotel. Leases for hospitality to follow. Way over 3 years late it is surely inconceivable that the launch cannot take place in 2025. I guess we’ll see.

A phased opening is said to be a possibility, with the front spaces (foyer, council chamber, committee rooms etc.) opening in the spring/summer …

A BRIEF PROJECT ROUND UP

Development Outlook

Obviously the extensive delays and the difficulties between stakeholders are extremely disappointing. The loss of the patient and long-standing arts operator, ‘Time+Space’ after some seven years is a destabilising development, even though we hear that a new operator is appointed (why the switch?). Perhaps an announcement to this effect may happen soon. It should. We’d like a timetable and a strategy please.

Not unconnected to the loss of operator, questions have been raised over the shape of an arts fit-out which remains undefined. HTH presents the supreme regenerative opportunity over the next decade for Crouch End, and we believe a fully realised arts centre and programme is a key component. An underwhelming ‘community hall’ type arrangement would not bring the increase in visitor numbers the town needs. The small scale workspace offer is likewise significant – perhaps lessons may be learnt from the many similar schemes, examples such as the workspace operation at the old Walworth Town Hall for instance.

We note that planning conditions remain unfulfilled, and Haringey have yet to sign things off.

Let’s hope that the project can come together soon, with a revitalised communication strategy, a revisited arts offer that can be put before the community, and a believable timetable for launch.

The Square

Well, the turf was laid in 2022, the front bit opened in 2023, … perhaps we’ll see the fence come down in 2025. As to when the pavement cafes arrive, stay tuned. NB. Barclays, under different ownership, is currently up for sale.

Certain items are not in place, not least the period lighting and a fix for the lawn damage, but also the paperwork connected with the space: for example the ‘Public Space Access and Management Plan‘, is a section 106 requirement that covers the “plan for the management, maintenance and servicing of the Public Access Area” i.e. the Square.

Looking ahead, all operational details of the Square are unchanged: it will of course be entirely publicly accessible. The maintenance and day-to-day management is in the hands of the TH estate management team (provided by Brunsfield), and events on the space will be controlled by the Arts Centre operator. We imagine an Events Programme is still some way off. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the secret garden round the back too: Town Hall Gardens, a publicly accessible space.

Arts Centre

The old TH public rooms were of course designed as an arts centre/venue. Let’s hope we’ll still get one but alas details are hard to come by: will we see details of the fit-out? Will an Artistic Director be appointed? Will the venue be creatively productive? Will a longer term artistic programme appear – perhaps to coincide with the Haringey Borough of Arts year? A strategy would be nice, and we’re watching out for engagement with the community prior to launch.

As mentioned, a phased launch may be possible in the late spring, but a grand opening (even if later) is absolutely necessary to drive engagement, it needs a decent splash.

Community Use

People will recall that HTH’s commitments to community use and access is agreed within the terms of the lease between Haringey and the developer. This requires a Community Use and Access Steering Group which will apparently form shortly, though we were told that a year ago. Community hire rates, set at a level below private hire, are yet to be set.

In the wider sense, no clarity yet on how the AC will work with the local Crouch End community in terms of cultural placemaking, alongside events such as the Festival, or whether the AC will act as a patron of local community creative activity.

Hotel, Hospitality

The 68 room ‘Dao by Dorsett Hornsey Town Hall’ has also fallen foul of the delays, people had booked rooms for Christmas only to be disappointed… we note that on booking.com a new date of April 1st has appeared…  NB. The hotel occupies the old administrative blocks of the TH.

Hospitality, in the form of three restaurants, two bars, and a café, await their own sub-leases and operators. Such things do of course require their own fit-out, perhaps 2 or 3 months on top.

Residential

The residential buildings are now complete. We are told that the handover of the 11 affordable units to Haringey has now happened (above the front annex).