Haringey (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Haringey Council’s leader is set to meet the director of a company that sold the town hall for £44m more than its purchase price, raising questions over the deal.
This week, it was revealed that the AMTD IDEA Group has agreed to a conditional £47.2 million purchase of the Hornsey Town Hall property from Far East Consortium.
FEC promised to rehabilitate the Grade II*-listed Art Deco monument by constructing a boutique hotel, 146 apartments, an arts complex, and other community services when it purchased the lease from Haringey Council in 2016 for £3.5 million.
The luxury apartments are finished, but it’s unclear how the arts center is coming together.
When Haringey becomes the Borough of Culture in 2026, the new agreement is said to “bring forward” the arts centre and help the council.
The council will meet with both parties “urgently” to examine the new arrangement and to pressure them for a “more definitive and deliverable” timeframe and vision for the arts center, according to Cllr. Peray Ahmet, who first stated that rumors the town hall was being sold were “purely speculative.”
She said:
“We want assurances that the objectives that were set out for the long-term future of Hornsey Town Hall and the community benefits it will bring for our residents will now be delivered.
I share the frustrations that it has taken far too long to bring forward proposals for the arts centre element of the project.
Given this new agreement has been put in place, I want to see action and activities on the ground and ensure that the partners live up to the commitments previously made.”
Cllr. Ahmet expressed her satisfaction with the construction of certain council homes and the removal of the Town Hall off the English Heritage at-risk register.
She added:
“We are now working to ensure the community use and access agreement is adhered to.
Our position remains that whoever controls the site will be expected to live up to the commitments made to the community to restore cultural and community use to the town hall.”
Wendy Chiu, executive director and joint managing director of Far East Consortium (FEC), said previously:
“Since we took ownership of the Town Hall in 2016, our commitment to future proofing this hugely important community asset has remained unchanged, and we have never lost sight of the connection that local people have to the building.”
How is Haringey Council planning to ensure FEC meets its community obligations?
Public access to numerous areas of the building, including historically significant areas, is guaranteed by the council’s Community Use Agreement with FEC. Over a rolling six-month period, this agreement guarantees that the arts center will be open for community usage for at least 60% of its operating hours.
Haringey Council is working closely with FEC to monitor progress and ensure that pledges are met.
In order to evaluate FEC’s suggestions for enlivening cultural and communal areas, this involves holding frequent meetings with representatives of the community.
The council is requesting that FEC give a more precise development date, especially for the arts center, which has seen major setbacks.
In order to foster trust and make sure that FEC’s vision is in line with community expectations, they are also advocating for improved community communication.