Updated 27.4.11

Town Hall to be flogged for £1 and peppercorn rent
for 125 years

On 26.4.11 in a Cabinet meeting Haringey approved a plan, which will see the landmark Grade II* listed building of Horsey Town Hall occupied by the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Haringey move to dispose Hornsey Town Hall with a 125 years lease to the ‘preferred’ development partner for a princely sum of £1 and peppercorn rent for the next 125 years.

Haringey is committed to sale the land around the HTH to a developer. The land situated in a prime location comes with a planning permit to build 123 flats which Haringey granted itself last year.

Funds generated by the sale are planned to be used to restore the Town Hall in partnership with funds provided by the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

To find out more please read the report to cabinet by the Haringey director of corporate Resources.

Haringey PR promises: "The partnership will bring the Town Hall back into use, restore heritage features, see a world-class drama school in Crouch End, allow access to public spaces for the first time in many years, and offer a host of community benefits."

However both Haringey press release and the report to cabinet do not furnish the public with any meaningful details of the deal, or what is to be expected in return.

Under the proposals, Mountview will occupy the Town Hall. Surrounding land will be sold by the council and developed for housing to cover some of the costs of restoring the historic features of the building, while Mountview will take responsibility for its refurbishments and repairs and maintenance throughout the lease.

In the front: On the right Sandy Orr OBE, Chairman of Mountview and Ann Wilks, Chair of HTHCT on the left
In the back: On the right Cllr Joe Goldberg Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Finance and Sustainability and Sue Robertson Principal of Mountview on the left

According to Haringey press release Mountview Principal Sue Robertson said: "I am delighted that the council and the Trust share our vision for Hornsey Town Hall. These plans bring Mountview back to Crouch End, stronger than ever, in stunning new facilities for theatre training and performance. The move will allow us to act as a real resource for the borough, extending our education and community programme across Haringey and enabling the community to enjoy this important heritage building once again."

Despite all the good intentions of all involved the devil is often found in the fine details of any agreement, for that reason we urge you to look into it and find out more before this is a done deal.