Notting Hill Housing Trust’s plans involve demolishing the busy industrial units on Westgate/Bocking Street, which employ at least 35 people and which are in very short supply, and replacing them with the same type of commercial units that have been empty for years along Sheep Lane, Triangle Road and Mare Street underneath a 6 storey development of flats. After being empty for a period the Council has been allowing these commercial units to be converted for other uses, including chain supermarkets. Recently, the Council allowed a change of use to the B1 offices at 24/47 Mare Street, without consulting Broadway Market traders, which resulted in a Sainsbury’s opening there this year.

Tesco would love to get a unit at Westgate which could kill the businesses on Broadway Market who have made the area the success it is.

Small businesses at the Westgate Centre, many of which directly serve the local community (eg. Rebel Rebel, Doorstep Laundry, Dog Villas, etc.) will find it extremely hard, if not impossible, to find local accommodation as work units with parking spaces are in extremely short supply in Hackney.

Tenants of the units have been told they can’t comment on they plans or it would result in them breaking their agreement and risk them being evicted.