Hornsey Town Hall update: Gateway Review

An options appraisal to explore possible future uses of Hornsey Town Hall will be carried out by Haringey Council.

The council’s Cabinet agreed last night (15 July) that a variety of possibilities for the Grade II* listed building and its surrounding site should be considered as part of the council’s ongoing commitment to securing a long-term future for the building.

The decision follows a “gateway review”, which tested progress made against existing plans for a partnership between the council and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Under the agreement with Mountview, which was reached in 2011, the vacant Town Hall would be restored and brought back into use as Mountview’s permanent home and an arts, culture and education hub for Haringey.

The gateway review looked at all aspects of the Hornsey Town Hall project – from design and project management, to funding – and made a series of recommendations to address concerns including a gap in funding for the Mountview scheme. An options appraisal was amongst the recommendations made.

Cllr Alan Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said:

"People in Crouch End are rightly passionate about Hornsey Town Hall, and we share that passion and the desire to see the building brought back into use as a true community asset.

"We’re really enthusiastic about Mountview’s vision for the Town Hall, and in particular their commitment to an extensive programme of community use that will give local people access to the building.

"Both the council and the Hornsey Town Hall Creative Trust are still working closely with Mountview on their plans for the building and their fundraising strategy.

"But it’s vital that the long-term future of the Town Hall is secure, which is why we’ll be looking closely at all options during the next few months so that we can be confident that we have a sustainable scheme that will both honour the Town Hall’s heritage and assure its long-term future as a community landmark for everyone in Hornsey and Haringey to be proud of."

Cabinet agreed that a report presenting the options generated and results of the options appraisal should be put before the Cabinet in Autumn 2014.