Millionaire DJ pulls plans for 20-storey Brixton tower

A Texan millionaire DJ has pulled plans to build a 20-storey tower in the middle of Brixton. 

Taylor McWilliams’s property company Hondo has withdrawn its application to build the controversial office block just four days before a City Hall hearing was due to be held to determine the future of the plans. 

Hondo said delays to the project, which has been strongly opposed by campaigners, had made it difficult for the building to be delivered, in a letter addressed to City Hall by its agent DP9 on Monday, July 17.

The withdrawal of the plans is a victory for local activists who have kept up a dogged fight to oppose the tower at every step since the proposals first came to light three years ago. 

Save Nour, a social media campaign against the tower that originated in light of Hondo Enterprises serving notice on Nour Cash and Carry in Brixton Village, announced news of the victory on Twitter last night (July 17).

In a post, it said: “TAYLOR TOWER HAS FALLEN!! In the face of three years of community campaigning and resistance- Taylor McWilliams has WITHDRAWN application on his office block! More to come tomorrow, but tonight celebrate a victory of local people over 1 millionaire landlord.” 

A letter written on behalf of Hondo to City Hall confirming the withdrawal of the application said: “Unfortunately, the very long period of gestation over the past two years has had a profound impact on the ability to deliver this much needed jobs and skills boost in Brixton and in particular the Windrush ward.

“We are now in the position where the applicant needs to reconsider its position and can only do this by withdrawing the application.”

Hondo added that it intended to soon present a “revised approach” that would “deliver lasting benefits for Brixton’s businesses and residents.” 

Lambeth Council approved Hondo’s plans for the tower on Pope’s Road in December 2020 despite nearly 8,000 people signing a petition opposing the project.

But Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called in the proposals over concerns that the building was too big and would harm the character of the area and cause harm to views of listed buildings and nearby parks. 

A public hearing at City Hall was due to take place on Friday, July 21, to hear arguments for and against the planned tower. 

If it had gone ahead, the 20-storey office block would have included 12.5 per cent affordable workspace and created 1,600 new jobs in the centre of Brixton.

Labour MP Helen Hayes said: “The news today that Hondo Enterprises has withdrawn the planning application for a 20 storey tower on Pope’s Road in central Brixton is very welcome. This proposal was never good enough for Brixton.

“It was twice as tall as any other building in the surrounding area and would have overshadowed local independent businesses.

“It was inappropriate for a location which is adjacent to two Conservation Areas, the listed Brixton Recreation Centre and the historically important Electric Avenue.

“I have been contacted by an overwhelming number of my constituents who were concerned about the impact this plan would have had on Brixton town centre.

“There was no evidence of the demand for 20 storeys of office space, particularly after the shift to remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the current government’s relaxation of planning rules meant that had it been built, the tower could then have been used as a backdoor for luxury housing with no requirements for social or affordable housing.

“Hondo now need to go back to the drawing board. Any future scheme for this site in central Brixton must be developed in collaboration with the local community, designed to meet local needs and designed to complement Brixton’s historic environment.”