A controversial 20-storey tower proposed for Brixton by a billionaire Texan DJ has been scrapped after a years-long community campaign against the project.
Taylor McWilliams’ company Hondo, which owns most of Brixton market, withdrew its office block plans just days before a City Hall hearing was due to be held to determine the application.
Lambeth council granted planning permission for the tower next to the famous Electric Avenue in 2020. But the decision was later called in by Mayor Sadiq Khan’s team.
A letter to planning chiefs, written on behalf of Hondo this week, said delays over the last two years had had a “profound impact” on the tower’s viability and the “applicant needs to reconsider its position”.
“The very long period of gestation over the past two years has had a profound impact on the ability to deliver this much needed jobs and skills boost in Brixton and in particular the Windrush ward,” it said.
“We are now in the position where the applicant needs to reconsider its position and can only do this by withdrawing the application.”
Mr McWilliams, a member of the DJ collective Housekeeping, first attracted anger from campaigners when Hondo served notice on the popular local shop Nour Cash & Carry.
Following a “Save Nour” social media campaign the store was offered an alternative premises nearby.
Labour MP Helen Hayes said on Tuesday: “This proposal was never good enough for Brixton. It was twice as tall as any other building in the surrounding area and would have overshadowed local independent businesses.
“It was inappropriate for a location which is adjacent to two Conservation Areas, the listed Brixton Recreation Centre and the historically important Electric Avenue.
“I have been contacted by an overwhelming number of my constituents who were concerned about the impact this plan would have had on Brixton town centre.
“Hondo now need to go back to the drawing board. Any future scheme for this site in central Brixton must be developed in collaboration with the local community, designed to meet local needs and designed to complement Brixton’s historic environment.”
But Tory MP Simon Clarke slammed the campaign against the project and development.
“This is how countries become steadily poorer,” he said.
