A proposal which aims to secure a £27 million investment to completely restore the iconic Hornsey Town Hall and deliver a new community arts centre, improved town hall square, new café / restaurant and a boutique hotel has been agreed by Haringey’s cabinet tonight (18 October 2016). The hotel element of the scheme will help to cover the extensive running costs associated with the town hall and will guarantee the future of Hornsey Town Hall.
Haringey’s cabinet approved a recommendation for the council to enter into a development contract with a UK based company formed by Far East Consortium International Ltd (FEC) and Coplan Estates, which will see a long lease granted following the successful restoration and refurbishment of the historic, art deco building and town hall square. FEC and Coplan Estates will appoint a specialist arts centre operator and are currently in discussions with ANA Arts Projects, who currently operate and manage the Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre.
The £27 million refurbishment plan will:
- deliver a new community arts centre and café / restaurant
- completely restore and repair the ageing building so it is removed from the Buildings At Risk register
- make improvements to the public realm, including better public access to the town hall square
- deliver a boutique hotel in part of the building
The complete refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Hornsey Town Hall will be funded by new housing on the site.
FEC and Coplan Estates will set up a steering group when the refurbished town hall building opens, which will include local residents and community groups. FEC and Coplan Estates will be actively engaging with the local community on the refurbishment plan of the Town Hall.
Alan Strickland, Haringey Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Planning said,
“This solution for Hornsey Town Hall guarantees public access to the building for future generations, following a £27million complete refurbishment of the Grade II* listed building. The new Hornsey Town Hall will have a new arts centre, improved square and a new café / restaurant to give residents new community space in the heart of Crouch End. We have listened to the local community and acted on their concerns, setting strict requirements for public access to the town hall and square which will be written into legal agreements.”
John Connolly, Head of Development from FEC said:
“We are very excited about being given the opportunity to create a new landmark and for the local people to be proud of in Crouch End. The Town Hall building is unique and our proposal to restore the building will ensure it remains one of most iconic buildings in London. Providing a long term feasible scheme has been a huge problem over the years but these plans are sustainable and provide a community use. We are committed in delivering a scheme which will make the local residents proud and enjoy for generations to come.”
Liz Sich, Chair of Hornsey Town Hall Creative Trust, commented:
“Hornsey Town Hall Creative Trust has worked to secure long-term community access to and use of Hornsey Town Hall for well over a decade. We welcome this much-needed investment in the Town Hall and Square. We do recognise that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that the promises of the preferred bidder are kept, that the restoration of the Town Hall, the Square and the development of surrounding site is as good as it possibly can be, and that formal mechanisms are put in place as soon as possible to ensure proper community representation in the future of Hornsey Town Hall.”
