Homegrown goes to court

Notting Hill Genesis obtains possession order after the community group squatted their land
By Alice Kemp-Habib

Homegrown in Tottenham will continue its Saturday school and food bank on an “ad hoc” basis

Notting Hill Genesis has taken a Tottenham-based community group to court, after it squatted a building on land owned by the property developer.

As reported in HCP’s September issue, Homegrown in Tottenham ran a food bank, Saturday school and advocacy service from a meanwhile-use facility (called Grown Tottenham) on land owned by Notting Hill Genesis until August.

In August, Homegrown – alongside other organisations and individuals based at Grow Tottenham – were evicted with barely two months notice. As a result, some businesses were forced to close down and Homegrown was left without a space to host its pre-arranged summer school.

Homegrown had been based at Grow Tottenham informally since 2018. In May, they discussed formalising their tenancy with Notting Hill Genesis and even signed an tenancy agreement. Notting Hill Genesis did not sign the agreement in return, and the eviction notice was served shortly after.

Following the eviction, Homegrown volunteers and supporters squatted the facility in Ashley Road, N17, for 24 days, demanding Notting Hill Genesis find them alternative space to use.

Notting Hill Genesis has since obtained a possession order, forcing Homegrown to end its occupation. It plans to build new homes, creative studios, a nursery, retail units and a café on the land.

A Notting Hill Genesis spokesperson said: “Homegrown has now left the site at Ashley Road following a court order, allowing us to start intrusive surveys ahead of construction work on 353 much-needed new homes, half of which will be affordable housing.

“We have offered to keep in contact with them to ensure they are considered should a suitable site become available in the new development.”

Homegrown is currently working with the Haringey council to find an interim space in Tottenham Hale. In the meantime, volunteers will run the food bank and Saturday school outdoors for as long as the weather permits.

Emma Djilali, who helps to run Homegrown, said: “We didn’t want to just stop running our programs, because then it leaves a lot of families or kids without that same consistency or support that’s quite important to have.

“If we have to run things in a slightly ad hoc way, we will.”

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