Small businesses housed within the Fruit and Wool Exchange in Spitalfields have been given notice to leave by Christmas despite the rejection of development plans for the site.
The plans, proposed by developers Exemplar, would replace the historic Fruit and Wool Exchange with a 30,000 foot office and retail complex. They have been blocked by Tower Hamlets Council twice.
The future of this site seems uncertain as, despite these failed attempts, the leaseholders in the Exchange were issued with notices by the City of London Corporation who own property asking them to leave by December 1 .
A spokesperson from the City of London Corporation said: “The building was coming towards the end of its economic life, it was beginning to lose money.”
He said that the leaseholder being issued with notices during this period of planning dispute was just a “coincidence.”
“The businesses were given notice a few months ago and it would have happened regardless.”
The Corporation confirmed that the building will be closed whatever the outcome of Tower Hamlets Council’s decision.
Dan Cruikshank, a TV historian and chairman of the Spitalfields Trust said to the East End Advertiser: “It seems like Scrooge telling traders to go just before Christmas.”
“It’s mind boggling and absurd to empty the building for no reason and won’t impress anyone.”
Eighty small businesses are being pushed out of the Exchange. A tenant, who wished to remain anonymous, has been working for a publishing company based inside the building. He said: “We still hope we’ll have a say in it. I heard an agreement has been made to stop [the City of London Corporation] from leaving the building empty.”
Another tenant from a shipping company that has been in the Exchange for 16 years, also declined to be named, but said: “In this hierarchical world it all seems to be about who can offer the most money.” He said of the developers: “They won’t be able to bribe Tower Hamlets Council because they’ve already rejected the plans, they’ll have to go about it another way.”
Another tenant said: “Many businesses have been here for 16 years or more, it seems a shame that they are now being turfed out. It can be very hard for small businesses.”
Exemplar are reluctant to comment on the current situation.
It is likely that the developers will now take the decision to a planning appeal.
Contact the campaign to save the Fruit and Wool Exchange via their Facebook page.
By Louisa Plumstead
Excellent story from your reporter, especially in talking to the tenants of Spitalfields Exchange. Some tenants were at the two Tower Hamlets Council Meetings, in the public gallery, as they love the Exchange and want to stay there. When the Council Committee refused permission both times, they thought it was saved. On 31 May, Committee Member Cllr. Carlo Gibbs even protected the Exchange further (with the unanimous support of fellow Members) by “the demolition of the Fruit and Wool Exchange itself” being a Reason for Refusal. (It is the second Reason.) Of course this would have withstood an appeal (with the English Heritage objections as well) so Exemplar have now gone to the London Mayor. Next Thursday 21 June, the London Mayor will respond on whether he will respect the wishes of the people of the East End and their elected representatives – the Refusal was a cross-party Decision – and those of English Heritage and hundreds and hundreds of objectors, or whether he will be responsible for the demolition of the last of Spitalfields Market, left after the Corporation’s demolition of 60% of the Market in 2002. (The London Fruit and Wool Exchange was built in 1929 as ‘New Spitalfields Market’.) Objectors must now plead with the London Mayor. Please look at the Facebook page: Save the London Fruit and Wool Exchange (1929) which shows some of the history of this magnificent local landmark which is not at the end of its “economic life” when it is an Art Deco building of Portland stone and exceptionally grand, inside and out. It could be restored and reused – as the Art Deco Bethnal Green Town Hall has to award-winning effect as the Town Hall Hotel. (By the same architect who designed the 1920’s Bank, also part of these demolitions.) No tourists or visitors want to come to Spitalfields Market to see any more destruction of the heritage they come here to see. The City – and the London Mayor – must recognise this and not see look at what is left of original Spitalfields Market buildings in Tower Hamlets as ‘sites’ for demolition and development.