Traders seek community asset status for Ridley Road Shopping Village

Traders at Ridley Road Shopping Village in Dalston have applied for the building to be recognised as a community asset. This move follows their landlord's refusal to renew leases and an order to close the premises by 31 March, leading to a peaceful occupation by vendors.

Landlord's reasons for closure

Guy Ziser, director of the Virgin Islands-based owner Larochette Real Estate, stated that the closure was for 'community safety reasons'. He cited a Metropolitan Police warning regarding concerns over drug use, drug supply, violent offences, and antisocial behaviour. The site experienced a police raid in August 2023 concerning drug and knife possession, which led to several arrests. Some traders have been informed they will not be permitted to return due to cautions or charges from this incident.

However, the Metropolitan Police have refuted Mr Ziser's claims, stating that they did not recommend the building's closure. The force described their warning as 'the lowest form of enforcement'.

History of the building

The current dispute is part of a longer-standing disagreement since Larochette Real Estate purchased the building for £6.5 million in 2016. The company has made multiple attempts to remove traders, including an attempted eviction in 2018, which prompted the 'Save Ridley Road' campaign. Plans by Larochette to demolish the building and redevelop it into luxury flats were previously refused by Hackney Council.

In 2019, new three-year leases were negotiated, and Hackney Council designated the building as an asset of community value (ACV). This status requires council planners to consider the site's social and community importance in future planning decisions. However, the ACV listing lapsed in 2024.

The shopping village has been described as the 'beating heart of Ridley Road' by Peter Dissi, chair of the newly established Ridley Road Shopping Village Traders Association and owner of a record shop. He highlighted its role as a meeting place and a hub for advice on health, well-being, and Black culture, functioning in many ways as a counselling spot.

The initiative to relist the building as an ACV has received backing from City Hall. Deputy mayor for business Howard Dawber called the Shopping Village a 'crucial piece of local economic and social infrastructure'.

What happens next

The traders' application for community asset status is now under consideration. The outcome of this application will determine the building's future protection against potential redevelopment or sale.