Petition to save Brixton Market food business approaches 17,000 signatures

The business, which has been part of the Brixton community for 20 years, has been served with a section 25 notice to leave the premises on 22 July, despite the fact that it serves the local community, including 90% of the restaurants in the market and surrounding areas.

Property investment company Hondo Enterprises, which acquired the leasehold interest in Brixton Village and Market Row in April 2018, served Nour with an eviction notice in January, saying that the business had to close to make way for an electricity substation to be built. However, the Save Nour campaign says that neither Nour nor Lambeth Council has seen any plans from UK Power Networks (UKPN) that suggest this to be the case.

The Save Nour Cash & Carry petition​​, which is being hosted on online platform change.org, says the move to evict the business marks a loss of the culture and community of Brixton.

“Brixton has changed dramatically over the past 10 years but the change cannot be at the expense of the people who have always served the community,” it says.

“Over the past 2 years, we have seen closures of many long term and well established retailers in the market. This has had a dramatic effect on footfall and as a result, many of the remaining retailers are now suffering.

“While we welcome some of those changes and investments, Brixton has developed into a hub for bars and restaurants and is losing its most valued assets, which are the culture and community it has homed for decades.”

Update: ​

Hondo Enterprises has responded to this story with the following statement:

"Over the past few years, we have invested extensively within Brixton Market, upgrading the heating, drainage and the infrastructure. However, a lack of power is a major challenge with power cuts affecting the 50 traders in Market Row as well as restricting our ability to open new stores in the existing vacant units.
 
"We have been looking at the best way to address this issue and the only way forward is to build a new electrical substation which is crucial for the future of the Market. After consulting with UK Power Networks they informed us the most suitable location for the substation was within a unit currently used by Nour Cash and Carry. We have been in talks with Nour for over a year to try and find the best solution that retains them within the Market and to make sure their rent is affordable.
 
"After looking at a number of possibilities with Nour, we have agreed to provide a large purpose built unit, paid for by the landlord. The application for this new unit, which was submitted in December, has now been approved and we hope to shortly be able to jointly announce details of a long-term affordable deal for Nour to remain.
 
"We would like to make clear that we value Nour as an important part of the community and we continue to hope that we can come to a resolution in which Nour remains in a unit within the Market. Hondo recognises that the Markets play a part in thousands of people’s daily lives and is an integral part of what makes Brixton home. We are committed to protecting and enhancing this community asset for many years to come."