The owner of five small community-focused businesses in Rotherhithe has been able to start trading again, after he was evicted last Thursday (August 11).
Michael Clinkett said he was “really happy” to get his takeaway Caribbean food business, barbers, hairdresser and music studio on Rotherhithe New Road running again – after being locked out last week by his previous landlord and then failing to get an answer over a relocation package with the developer of a new private tower block being planned for the site.
His car wash should take some more time to start again, as the people he was employing have moved on to other work in the meantime.
Some locals were in uproar when the bailiffs arrived and told the News of the good work Mr Clinkett had done within the community.
Mr Clinkett was evicted on Thursday by his landlord after his lease ran out in May. He had not moved because he says he knew he was entitled to be relocated by the developer of the new twelve-storey block, which got a preliminary kind of planning permission from Southwark Council in February.
Mr Clinkett pointed to a clause in the council’s planning policy that says: “Where existing small or independent businesses or small shops may be displaced by development a business relocation strategy, written in consultation with [affected] businesses, must be provided. The business relocation strategy must set out viable relocation options.”
Longstanding small business owner kicked off Rotherhithe site with private block set to be built
Patrick Maher, of the developer Regent Land and Development said on Friday that he was unsure whether the clause applied to him as it was not in place when the application for planning permission was put in.
But the council held a meeting with Mr Clinkett and the developer Regent Land and Development on Monday (August 15), where officers told Mr Maher that the clause did apply to him – meaning he had to find Mr Clinkett’s businesses a new site, or planning permission would not be fully granted.
In the meantime, Mr Clinkett’s Plush group of businesses have had their lease extended to November 30 this year.
Mr Clinkett thanked the local community for their “wonderful, overwhelming response.”
He said: “I am flattered, it’s made me realise how much of a role I play in the community. I’ve always been at the barbers looking out, forced me to be on the outside looking in and that’s shown me the impact I’ve had on the community.
“I’m going to be even more community focused in future. I always wanted to just provide a good service and do what I do, but now I realise I play a big part in the character and make up of Surrey Quays.”
Cllr James McAsh, Southwark’s cabinet member for climate emergency and sustainable development, said: “Our position has always been that new development should not come at the expense of existing businesses. We have specific policies ensuring their protection in the Southwark Plan, which are normally outlined in our legal agreement with developers when planning permission is granted.
“In this case, full planning permission has not been granted. We want to provide reassurance that planning permission will not be granted until a resolution is reached that all parties are happy with. This includes a fair and equitable relocation package for the businesses affected.”
Mr Maher declined to comment.
The new block at 19-Rotherhithe New Road will be residential. Twelve of the 48 new homes will be for social rent. One will be for ‘intermediate’ rent – usually 80 per cent of normal market rates – and the remaining 35 will be private. Five wheelchair-accessible homes will also be included, one of which will be a social rent flat.
As well as the council’s permission, the scheme also has go before a Greater London Authority (GLA) committee. The GLA meeting could be in the next two weeks, according to Mr Maher.