Boxpark Shoreditch, the iconic venue, is set to close at the end of this summer due to its temporary lease expiring. Boxpark Shoreditch is the flagship site that opened in 2011, housing multiple street food and retail stores. Although Boxpark owners have assured that they will be opening two new venues in Camden and Liverpool Street and aiming to relocate all of its current Shoreditch staff and tenants to these new sites, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has demanded “immediate action” to save Boxpark Shoreditch from closure.
The owners of Boxpark Shoreditch are yet to submit a planning application, but there are currently plans for Boxpark to turn into a redevelopment project called Bishopsgate Goodsyard. This project is expected to include a park, retail spaces, offices and housing. The development is currently under appeal after it was turned down by Tower Hamlets Council.
The NTIA has set up a campaign to save Boxpark from closure, requesting Hackney Council to take action. Michael Kill (CEO of the NTIA) said, “Boxpark Shoreditch exemplifies the exact issue faced across the country with red tape and restrictive regulatory controls stalling business investment. This has to stop. People are fed up. The new Government has made an amazing start, and I call on them to reach into the local authority, invigorate the local planning department and Hackney Council to find a solution.”
Roger Wade (Boxpark’s founder) regrets to announce that BoxPark Shoreditch will be closing despite continuous efforts in collaboration with GLA, Hackney Council and the landlords of Bishopsgate Goodsyard. Unfortunately, the developers will not start building immediately, which makes this decision even more disheartening, especially since neighbours Power league received an extension. Since its launch in 2011, BoxPark Shoreditch, the world’s first pop-up, has created over 1,000 jobs, contributed over £80 million each year to the local economy and over £1 billion since opening, launched hundreds of new independent businesses, and welcomed over 10 million visitors.
Boxpark was established as an innovative way to fill shuttered retail space and has since become one of London’s premier shopping and dining destinations. With its unique and trendy atmosphere, Boxpark has become a cultural icon. It has innovatively contributed to urban regeneration and played a vital role in the local community. The pending closure is not only a loss to the community but also a setback for the image of London
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