Protest at Omega Works artist housing redevelopment plans

Historic former piano factory Omega Works, in Hermitage Road, is now home to more than 100 residents and businesses after being converted into a mixed living and creative studio space over the past two decades.

But plans by developer Majorlink would see the warehouses demolished to make way for blocks of flats up to seven storeys high, providing 36 flats for private sale and “warehouse living units” that existing tenants say they would be unable to afford.

Campaigners say the scheme threatens one of the “last affordable artist communities in London” where a diverse group of people can live together, collaborate, and contribute to the cultural life of the city.

Resident Caitlin Strongarm said: “We have an amazing community here. If we lose this, it’s more than just our homes. It’s everything.

“We rely on spaces like this. Our residents are almost all creatives, we run our businesses from here, make art, host events – if we have to leave, in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis, we will lose our incomes as well as our homes.”

Campaigners are fighting to save warehouses where they live and work (credit Nick Charity @Klaus_indas_haus)

Amber Reeves Piggott, another resident of Omega Works, said: “I’m an opera singer, one of a small minority of working-class opera singers in the country. Without Omega Works, without the ability to affordably live, work, and record as part of a creative community, I would never be able to succeed in what is too often a very exclusive art form”.

Planning documents reveal the developer wants to build 36 flats at the site, but it has deemed the provision of affordable housing as financially unviable.

Majorlink also plans to create eight “warehouse living units” containing 67 beds, pledging to allow existing tenants – who will have to relocate while development takes place – to sign up for a “priority list” for the new homes.

Campaigners are fighting to save warehouses where they live and work (credit Grégoire Charbonnier @okkyata)

Plans suggest these units would be rented at a monthly cost of £1,000 per room, including bills. Resident Bronagh Hughes said current rents are “much lower” – around £550 to £750 per month, including bills – so existing tenants would be priced out of the new scheme.

Bronagh said it would be difficult for singers, musicians and other creatives to find other places to live because of their line of work. “It is really difficult to live in a normal flat,” she explained. “You need space to record. Almost 100 people are in the same position.

“A lot of people would want to continue living in some of the other warehouse buildings in Haringey – but there are definitely not enough rooms for even a handful living there right now.”

Campaigners are fighting to save warehouses where they live and work

Bronagh said that when a similar warehouse in Hackney Wick was cleared out to make way for redevelopment, there were about 20 people working there – but only one of them still lives in London.

She added: “Warehouses are one of the only ways to live in London for working creatives who are not from significant money. A lot of people are working at big cultural institutions, in galleries and at the Royal Academy of Music. When we lose these spaces, that has a knock-on effect on the city.”

Omega Works is also home to Snap Recording Studio, a leading independent recording studio that has been used by some of the UK’s biggest artists, including Kate Bush, Stormzy, Lily Allen, Liam Gallagher and The Streets.

Campaigners are fighting to save warehouses where they live and work (credit Gr?oire Charbonnier @okkyata)

Studio manager and resident engineer Marco Pasquariello said: “The loss of Omega Works would be devastating for us. We can’t afford to take time out while the new development is being built, and we most likely wouldn’t be able to afford to move back into whatever they rebuild.”

So far, more than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the development to be stopped.

A spokesperson for Haringey Council said: “We are aware of and fully appreciate the concerns expressed about this application. We’re currently undertaking a formal consultation on the proposals and would urge anyone with views to submit these, so their voice is heard. All comments will be carefully considered when the application is decided by the planning sub-committee at a future date.

Campaigners are fighting to save warehouses where they live and work (credit Grégoire Charbonnier @okkyata)

“As part of our review of the application, we’ve already visited the site and will be raising with the developers the specific concerns of current residents. Our planning policy seeks to secure a long-term, sustainable future for warehouse and creative living and to ensure the unique characteristics of this type of accommodation are provided in new warehouse living developments.”

Developer Majorlink was approached for comment via the planning agent.

The petition is available here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-warehouses-1

The plans can be viewed and commented on by visiting the council’s planning portal and entering reference HGY/2022/4310. The planning portal is available here: https://publicregister.haringey.gov.uk/pr/s/register-view?c__r=Arcus_BE_Public_Register