Wednesday 15 September 2021 10:53 am | Updated: Tuesday 02 November 2021 3:53 pm

Tower Hamlets council approves plan to build shopping mall on Brick Lane

A general view of the nhow London chameleon as it is installed on the chimney of the Old Truman Brewery. The Brewery could be redeveloped as a shopping mall and office space (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

Controversial plans to build a shopping mall on the site of the historic Truman Brewery on Brick Lane have been given a green light.

At a meeting of the Tower Hamlet Development Committee yesterday councillors voted 2-1 in favour of a proposal to redevelop the Brewery as a five story office building and retail space. The decision comes as a blow to local campaign groups who say the plans threaten Brick Lane’s cultural identity and heritage.

Truman's Brewery — c.1959: A truck loads barrels of beer at Truman’s Brewery in East London. A brewhouse was first built at the site in 1666 (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

A council spokesperson said, “the Development Committee has agreed with the officer assessment that the proposals comply with our local planning rules. Permission is subject to ensuring the scheme creates public benefits, including updated proposals for affordable workspace and independent retail.”

A decision on the development proposal was deferred in April after the council received over seven thousand complaints and dozens of objection letters from concerned constituents.

Graduate Fashion Week 2019 - Day 2 — Models backstage during Graduate Fashion Week at The Truman Brewery. The Brewery currently features art galleries, hosts arts events and independent retail outlets. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

A spokesperson for The Spitalfields Trust said the group was “extremely disappointed” to learn of the Committee’s decision which is “overwhelmingly and vigorously opposed by the local community.”

“The Woodseer Street scheme will have a seriously harmful impact on the character of the Brick Lane and Fournier Street Conservation Area and the community and businesses of the area,” the group said.

Local campaigners have warned that an influx of corporate businesses could push up rents in the area, eroding Brick Lane’s cultural identity by forcing existing companies out. Campaigners are instead calling for additional support to help existing businesses on facing financial hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tower Hamlets Council have voted 2-1 to put a shopping mall full of High St chains at the heart of Brick Lane, when a great alternative plan existed to help local businesses and people. Targeted destruction of arguably the most important Asian community outside Asia, for starters
— Justin Sherin (@wychstreet) September 14, 2021

However, counsellors were swayed by updates to the proposal which promised the new development would place a strong focus on attracting local independents to the building. The company will reserve 20 per cent of retail units for independent outlets and prioritise applications from small businesses.

A digital mock up of the new development (credit: Truman Brewery)

During the meeting, council officer Patrick Harmsworth said “we are all cognisant of the level of objection and concerns that were raised” confirming that the council intends to the local community and attract “the best possible mix of business types” to the development.

“If an occupier who might be, depending on your definition, described as corporate were to move in there wouldn’t really be a planning issue with that,” he added.

Under the proposals the new development will span from 140 to 146 Brick Lane and 25 Woodseer Street. The Truman Brewery will have to meet conditions set out by the council and seek further legal approvals before construction can begin.