Morning Lane campaigners accuse council of ‘excluding residents from key decisions’ on future of Tesco site

Morning Lane campaigners, pictured in 2021.

Campaigners have slammed Hackney Council’s approach to “co-design”, accusing it of “excluding” residents from “key decisions” on the future of the Tesco site in central Hackney.

Campaign group Morning Lane People’s Space (MOPS) was allowed to put forward candidates to be ‘community engagement consultants’, but local residents have not been given a say in who is chosen.

“It’s not about a shortlist, it’s about the opinions of all local residents,” said campaigner Heather Mendick.

“There’s so much mistrust surrounding 55 Morning Lane,” she continued, “but this is the first opportunity they have to do things differently, and they don’t.”

In a statement, the group said: “[Council] Officers refused to do this [include the public in selecting consultants], citing a lack of time, not being able to assess candidates fairly within their rules of procurement, and it being unreasonable to expect candidates to attend a public meeting before they are appointed.”

“The thing is, they’ve delayed, delayed and delayed this decision,” said Mendick, “and now they can’t hang on a few more weeks to get residents involved?”

She added that the council suggested that its preferred candidate “attends a meet-and-greet public session to give the local community the opportunity to meet them prior to confirmation of their appointment”.

“This is not co-design,” MOPS said. “It is not even consultation, it is PR, and an insult to the community.

“If the council’s rules of procurement block community involvement in appointments, then this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

The campaign is calling for “institutional blocks” that prevent decisions being shared with the public to be identified, “otherwise talk of co-design is just rhetoric”.

Cllr Guy Nicholson, deputy mayor and cabinet member for regeneration, delivery and inclusive economy, said: “A new development at 55 Morning Lane provides the opportunity to deliver the new homes and improved public spaces that the community and the town centre desperately needs – while retaining a much-valued town centre supermarket on the site.

“The council has made a clear commitment that views from all parts of the community will shape the development from the very beginning.

“Over the course of the autumn and winter, residents and groups across Hackney Central will be part of a community engagement process on the future design of the site that will help to create a site development brief, setting out what the council and the community want to see delivered at 55 Morning Lane.

“Appointing engagement consultants now emphasises rather than contradicts the council’s genuine commitment to supporting an inclusive design process.

“By bringing in expert support at an early stage, it will ensure that a dedicated team is focused on gathering the diverse community views for the future of the site and incorporating into the development brief for 55 Morning Lane.

“The approach will support a meaningful, participatory co-design process that is vital for the success of this project.”

Note: This article was amended at 23:50 on Wednesday 14 August 2024. It originally stated that “MOPS not only slammed the ‘failed’ fashion hub, but also the council’s current approach to reimagining the space.”  This has been deleted, as MOPS was commenting on the 55 Morning Lane site which is owned by Hackney Council, and where the Tesco store is located. The campaign group has made no comment on the council’s approach regarding the site of, and plans for, Hackney Walk, the “luxury outlet district” on Morning Lane.