Opponents of plans to build a 20-storey office tower on Pope’s Road in central Brixton today (24 November) launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund legal action against it.
Lambeth council’s planning g sub-committee approved the plans on a split vote earlier this month.
Funds will be used for legal appeals to the mayor of London and central government.
The Dutch company that obtained planning permission, AG Hondo Popes Road BV, is controlled by the New York based finance house Angelo Gordon.
Other Angelo Gordon companies based in Amsterdam own Brixton’s two covered markets, Market Row and Brixton Village.
They are both run as “Brixton Village” on a day-to-day basis by Hondo Enterprises, whose sole director, Texan DJ Taylor McWilliams, is a director of AG Hondo Popes Road BV.
McWilliams is also involved in the ownership of the former premises of Club 414 on Coldharbour Lane through another company, Brixton Studio, which recently presented accounts as a “dormant” company – meaning it has not traded for 12 months.
Hondo Enterprises contends that its plans for a large development on Pope’s Road and Brixton Station Road which includes the tower will bring economic benefits to Brixton.
A range of opponents, including local councillors, MP Helen Hayes and the Brixton Society, say the tower is an eyesore and that the space it offers is not suitable for Brixton.
They also warn that planned legislation means it could be converted to flats without needing further planning permission.
Campaigners say that while Lambeth council recently declared a climate emergency, the building would be inherently energy inefficient.
The #NoHondoTower campaign has instructed solicitors from law firm Leigh Day to pursue next steps for the campaign against the tower.
Time is of the essence here (a judicial review application needs making within 6 weeks of a decision) so please contribute to the legal fee crowd funding asap if you can. It’s the only chance to overturn this permanently damaging decision.