Agenda item

Mr Oliveri spoke on behalf of the Tottenham Business group and on behalf  of businesses in Peacock Industrial Estate in Tottenham N17. He felt that this decision on High Road West was an opportunity  for the Council and its partners to fully hear the voice of the traders and demonstrate respect to the businesses in their role as landowners. The traders wanted to reiterate that they had rights as business owners and they felt that they had been constantly disregarded and conveyed the predicament that they had been placed in with the regeneration of the High Road West area which, in their view, was placing pressure and uncertainty in the area.

They referred to the Council’s messaging on the High Road West regeneration proposals and the timing of this and questioned the benefits of the regeneration  to be realised.  They referred to recent correspondence between the Council and businesses in the area and contended that 70 to 80% of businesses in the development plans, were excluded and referred to the existing potential for local community wealth building activities, such as local jobs and training opportunities. They questioned the strategy of the Council in seeking regeneration for the area and felt that there were already businesses in place to provide for this.

Mr Oliveri spoke about the wider contribution of businesses in the Peacock Estate to essential services needed in the pandemic crisis.  They were able to provide support as they had long term  established relationships and experience in the local area. The businesses would continue to defend their rights as owners of freehold properties and would maintain this position, contributing to a successful area.

The Cabinet Member for Growth and Local Investment commented that the Council were committed to working with local businesses to establish their individual needs and to find a relocation solution which works for them and to keep as many businesses in High Road West and the surrounding area. There was a genuine commitment to finding solutions for each business based on their individual needs and preferences. The Cabinet Member would look into the concerns expressed on engagement and consider this further with officer colleagues. The Cabinet Member highlighted that the pandemic had caused difficulties with engagement and spoke about the hosting of online business events in the coming days and hoped the deputation and business colleagues in the Peacock Industrial Estate could attend and engage on the plans for the High Road West scheme.

In response to a question on ways of engaging with businesses, the deputation expressed that essentially the businesses were happy with their existing freehold properties and the locations were key part of the businesses. This point had been made to the Council over many years and the businesses felt that they were not being listened to in this regard.

The Leader of the Council allowed Cllr Gordon, Chair of the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel to put forward a question relating to alternative locations offered to the Peacock Industrial Estate. The deputation replied that the Shaftsbury Road site was not comparable to their existing site and was offered on different terms. The Leader of the Council interjected with a clarification that the Council’s intention was to purchase the Shaftesbury Road property to offer those businesses, that required a freehold, this opportunity and the site was 650 yards away from their current location. The Leader of the Council reiterated that this was about finding the best possible solution for each business, following the signing of the Development Agreement for the High Road West Scheme several years ago.

The Leader of the Council emphasised that the decision before Cabinet was not related to the businesses in the short or medium term but concerning the non-secure tenants that had been living in temporary accommodation on the Love Lane estate for a number of years and who desired a permanent Council tenancy at council rent. The Council had reached a position where they were able to offer this.

The Leader continued to respond to the deputation and was aware that there were a number of individual businesses and that each had their own different priority. The Council did want to find a bespoke response and solution for each individual business.

The Leader spoke about the need to build Council homes. The High Road West scheme was agreed over three years ago. However, moving forward with the scheme would help address housing barriers and housing inequality in North Tottenham, bringing forward substantial benefits to the area, including 2600 vital new homes, new community facilities and open spaces with substantial employment opportunities. The scheme would also a deliver a programme that supported local people to develop their skills and have confidence to access sustainable jobs across the Tottenham area.

The Leader expressed that the Council did not want to destroy businesses that were already there but to work with them. The majority of businesses, including the businesses on the Peacock Industrial Estate, were in the later phases of the development and would not need to move for a number of years. In the meantime, the Council were looking for suitable accommodation for businesses in the nearby facilities such as the Shaftsbury Road property. The Council would spend the time to understand each individual businesses need and aspirations to deliver bespoke solutions to each individual business.

The Council were also looking into simplifying the options to these key issues, i.e. if a freehold was held, seeking to address this with a similar solution such as the Shaftsbury Road property or alternative opportunities nearby. The Council was clear that, whatever the outcomes, the businesses would be compensated as set out in its High Road West Business Charter.

The Leader further refuted the allegations of discrimination outlined in the deputation submission. He advised that the Council were strongly committed to discharging its responsibilities under the Equalities act 2010 and the public sector equality duty that is placed upon the Council which was reflected in the detailed equality impact assessment that had been produced as part of this process, including an updated assessment for this decision. This was built upon previous EQIA’s completed in 2014, 2017 and 2020.

The Leader highlighted that one of the key functions of the EQIA was to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.  There was a need to consider the High Road West proposals in their totality and look at the overall benefits for all Haringey residents. These assessments advised that the scheme would have a longer term positive impact on individuals across a range of protected characteristics, including race. This was due to the scheme including 2600 homes which would tackle the demand for housing which was a principle issue for BAME communities across London. The scheme would provide employment and training opportunities for residents, including people who lived in and around the scheme, providing healthier and better life chances.

The Leader advised that the Council recognised there would be short term disruption caused by the development, including to the relocation of businesses. However, there were a number of mitigation measures that would be put in place to minimise this impact. This would include a focus on engaging businesses, in line with the High Road West Business Charter, and support them through this regeneration process, ensuring that all businesses remained viable, and relocation is a short distance.

There would be continual consideration of equalities information as the scheme progresses, allowing mitigations to be put in place and the Council rejected the assertions that decision made so far were based on the grounds of ethnicity.

The Leader concluded by outlining that the decision being taken forward was seeking to address the housing crisis and facilitating the building of 500 social homes, an increase of 355 on the number originally proposed. This would  further create an opportunity for almost 200 households in temporary accommodation to be offered a home on the Love Lane Estate with a secure Council tenancy at Council rent. The Leader felt that this was an outcome to be proud of and the council would continue to engage with local businesses and come forward with solutions for their specific requirements in future.

The Leader thanked Mr Oliveri for his representations.

The Leader varied the agenda to consider the report on High Road West – conditional approval of GLA funding at item 12.