Who are we?

We're seeking protection for the businesses operating in Ridley Road Shopping Village who are facing eviction by the off-shore developer/landlord which wants the building vacant to redevelop and provide luxury flats and upmarket shops and offices.

Our campaign is to support the traders of Ridley Road Shopping Village so they have the right to continue in business at least until the building is actually required for redevelopment and to return to trade there afterwards at affordable rents

We can’t protect Ridley Road Shopping Village alone - we need your support. Please contribute what you can now and most importantly share the page with your friends, family and on social media.

Case background

The Shopping Village traders are very much part of the Ridley Road market community, which is the beating heart of Dalston and the lifeline for many thousands who rely on its affordable food and goods. Some of the businesses have been trading in the Shopping Village over 30 years but are now again being threatened, for the second time in a month, with immediate eviction.

The new landlord, Larochette Real Estate Inc registered in the Virgin Islands tax haven, bought the building in November 2016 for £6.5million. Their planning application for redevelopment is far from being yet to be resolved by the planning authority. Nevertheless, Larochette has instructed lawyers who have informed traders that they no longer have any right to enter or trade from the building unless they sign a new agreement.

In October the developers UK representative Rainbow Properties Litd. gave their assurances to planners and the Mayor of Hackney that they would honour trader's leases, and give businesses at least six more months to trade, however they have now given businesses one week to accept their new terms or get out. 

The new agreement includes the imposition of additional new charges such as rates, building insurance and service charges which are already included in traders rents. It also excludes them from the protections which business tenants usually have by law. The new terms would also allow the landlord/developer to evict any trader who does sign the new agreement on 15 working days prior notice. In effect the traders could be evicted by 15th December if they sign the new agreement, or they could be evicted immediately if they don't.

The new offshore landlord/developer,  Larochette real Estate Inc., and their UK management company are engaging in behaviour which is intimidating traders and which has already frightened some into giving up their livelihoods and leaving.

How much are we raising and why?

We need your support to help with the battle to defend the rights of these small businesses and our community as a whole.

Initially, we urgently need to raise funds to meet the legal costs of representation to negotiate an acceptable resolution for traders but, failing agreement, to defend them against any action taken to evict them whether by Court proceedings or otherwise.

We will then need to go on and raise a significant amount more in order to follow this legal action through to its conclusion, including ensuring that traders and the community’s voices are heard on the planning application, and to ensure the traders have real peace of mind and security as members of the Ridley Road community long term.

Traders must not be intimidated by developers into giving up rights, rights, rights which were fought for and should be upheld.

Ridley Road Shopping Village Traders are supported by:

London Renters Union Hackney, OPENDalston, East London Unite Community, Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, Hackney Green Party, Decolonising Our Minds. Organisations from across Hackney and London – please get behind the campaign!