Community organisers squat Tottenham Hale facility

A community group is squatting a facility in Tottenham Hale as landowners attempted to evict them. 

Homegrown in Tottenham has operated a food bank, Saturday school and advocacy service from a meanwhile-use project called Grow Tottenham since 2019. Yesterday (Monday, 29th August), Grow – along with a host of individuals and organisations who used the space – was evicted from the Ashley Road site by Notting Hill Genesis, the housing association which owns the site.  

Several Homegrown volunteers and supporters (including founder Rose Dakuo) are now squatting the kitchen in Ashley House – which is adjacent to the former Grow Tottenham site – in an attempt to pressure Notting Hill Genesis and Haringey Council into providing them an interim space in Tottenham Hale. A statement released by Homegrown reads: 

“We are taking a stand to raise our concerns about the ongoing social cleansing of our community. This is reflected in housing policy, education, policing and countless other decisions that should be made with us and for us but are instead made without us. 

“We are here because our community has not been consulted or included in the Tottenham Hale redevelopment plans and we are no longer willing to accept empty promises or compromise on the needs of out children and families. The council and developers have knowingly allowed us to become homeless without taking meaningful action to address this. 

“We are tired of being pushed to the periphery when it comes to access to land and resources. We are tired of watching our children being made to feel like strangers in the area in which they were born or grew up in. We are tired of our children being criminalised simply because they exist and are not white or middle class. We are tired off being told we should move elsewhere when flats are being built for occupants who do not yet exist; who are not aware of our community’s struggle or its full beauty. We are tired of being pushed out of a future to which we have the right to belong. Which we have a right to determine. 

“We are asking for a permanent space in Tottenham Hale where children and families can think and coexist freely, critically and that is built first and foremost around love.” 

In video shared with HCP, Rose said: “I just said to myself I had to do this so people out there have to listen. I don’t know how many days it’s going to take, but I’m here. 

“Notting Hill Genesis are not talking to us, Haringey Council are not talking to us. But I’m here today to raise awareness to the people in Tottenham Hale. 

“To the people who move in and buy houses that are very expensive, I say ‘yes, buy it if you can afford it’. But people like this community who were here first, whose kids were born here, their family cannot afford to buy these houses. Young people who were born here and raised here are going to become strangers in the community they live in. 

“I’m here until someone comes to speak to us and says ‘we will find you another space’” 

A Notting Hill Genesis spokesperson said: “Homegrown did not hold a tenancy for the space they are occupying on Ashley Road. Despite this, we are continuing to work closely with Haringey Council to find an interim space for Homegrown and will keep in contact with them to ensure they are considered should a suitable space become available in the new development.”

A council spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing support and assistance to Voluntary Sector Community organisations wherever we can.

“We were made aware of the situation in July by Notting Hill Genesis and have been working hard with them since then to explore whether an alternative location can be found for both Grow Tottenham and Homegrown Tottenham. We want to find a solution and have reached out directly to Grow Tottenham and Homegrown to arrange a meeting so that we can better understand their needs and do everything possible to help them remain in the area.”

In 2018, Grow Tottenham was given use of the site for one year. As development plans were delayed, this was extended to four. Earlier this year it was suggested that the site would likely be extended for another couple of years. Homegrown even signed a tenancy agreement with the intention of using a larger part of the site and more rooms in Ashley House. In mid-July, however, an eviction notice was served. 

Homegrown is holding a protest outside the site on Ashley Road tonight at 7pm.