Today, Friday 30 September, Haringey Council announced its preferred bidder for the Hornsey Town Hall project (hornsey-town-hall-press-release-september-2016). This is not the culmination of the OJEU process as the recommendation now goes forward to the Cabinet on Tuesday 18 October, at which point and if agreed, the council will enter into final negotiations with the successful bidder. The council expects to sign contracts in early 2017.
Mixed community access and use of the historic parts of Hornsey Town Hall have been secured for the long term with a financially strong business plan underpinning the bid. This means that the Grade II* listed building will be fully and properly restored, taken off the Historic England At Risk register, and made fit for use in the 21st century. Public access to the Town Hall Square and green is also secure (despite community concerns, it was never threatened by development) but plans may well be forthcoming to improve this important amenity at the heart of Crouch End.
Hornsey Town Hall Creative Trust, which has been working with the council to try and find a sustainable future for this magnificent building for well over a decade, welcomes this recommendation. The Trust met with all bidders on several occasions to discuss and question their community proposals as part of the OJEU process; it also took part in the evaluation of the community access and use sections of the tenders.
There is still some way to go before Hornsey Town Hall is fully restored. HTHCT expects to play an active role in ensuring community access and use is properly and appropriately enshrined in long-term and binding legal agreements.
The council’s press release is here hornsey-town-hall-press-release-september-2016 but please do read the FAQs hornsey-town-hall-faqs-september-2016 which should answer many of your questions. If there is anything else you would like to know from us, please get in touch.
@Hornsey_T_Hall