Living Under One Sun had been hoping to move into a new permanent community hub in Down Lane Park but talks have broken down, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

A charity based in Down Lane Park in Tottenham Hale has quit its premises over fears Haringey Council’s park revamp plans are “in the bin”.

Living Under One Sun (LUOS), a community-led charity which has been active for around 20 years, moved into the existing, dilapidated pavilion in Down Lane Park in 2018. 

In 2021, the group began working with the council on delivering a permanent community hub and, the following year, the local authority proposed that a new hub be built. 

The council’s cabinet agreed a £9.1million budget to transform the park and build the new hub, which secured planning approval in February 2024.

However, LUOS said the council “stopped communicating” with them in September last year and then in March told them funding for the park’s plan would “be cut”.

In a statement, a spokesperson from the charity said: “Any new hub would have to compete with the new playground, multi-use games area and landscaping for any funds left. 

“The LUOS Business Plan was effectively ‘in the bin’, along with the previous funding approvals, the planning permission, and design work.”

The council has not confirmed whether the new community hub will be scrapped but has said plans have had to be reviewed given the “current financial situation”. 

The charity’s spokesperson continued: “After broken promises and several months with no clear direction or process for the future from the council, trustees feel strongly that we are not able to continue at the hub. 

“Despite our best intentions and efforts, trust in the council has been lost, and LUOS will not be renewing our lease.”

The council’s cabinet member for placemarking and local economy, Ruth Gordon, said she regretted LUOS was ending its lease but that the council was keen to continue working with the charity on the future of the park. 

She said the council would be setting up a meeting with the Friends of Down Lane Park group and a co-design group to “review all the options moving forward”. 

Cllr Gordon said: “The council is committed to providing facilities within the park, as part of the wider masterplan, although we have had to review the previous proposals given the current financial situation.

“We will also look to update on the current park café provision and operation once we have clarified with LUOS about their planned exit.”

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