Why the Truman Brewery Application Must Not Be Called In by the Mayor of London

Statement by ConserveConnect in support of the Save Brick Lane campaign

In light of renewed discussions around the future of the Truman Brewery redevelopment application, we wish to make one point absolutely clear:

This application should not be called in by the Mayor of London.

To do so now would be damaging to local democracy, harmful to public trust, and counterproductive to the community’s legal strategy.

It Undermines a Clear Local Decision

The application was unanimously rejected by Tower Hamlets Council’s Strategic Development Committee following public consultation and a full planning process. Overriding this decision would send a dangerous message: that even where communities organise, participate, and are heard—developers can still appeal to higher powers for reversal.

A call-in in this context would delegitimise the role of local planning authorities and weaken democratic accountability.

It Risks Derailing the Public Inquiry

The Save Brick Lane campaign has secured Rule 6 party status at the upcoming Public Inquiry scheduled for 14 October 2025. This provides a rare opportunity for residents, businesses, and cultural advocates to present evidence, cross-examine the developers, and defend the rejection through proper legal procedure.

A mayoral call-in would pre-empt this inquiry, strip local campaigners of their legal standing, and centralise decision-making under the GLA, where history has shown communities are often sidelined in favour of commercial outcomes.

The Application Fails the London Plan

The proposed scheme:

• Offers only six social housing units
• Dedicates over 70% of the site to office space and car parking
• Provides no meaningful rent protections for existing market traders
• Would accelerate cultural displacement in one of London’s most historic neighbourhoods

This directly contradicts several key objectives of the London Plan—including heritage protection, inclusive design, affordable workspace retention, and meaningful community engagement.

It Would Signal Silence in the Face of Cultural Erasure

Brick Lane is not just a site. It is a symbol. A living history shaped by generations of migrant, working-class, and anti-racist struggle. To call in this application now—when that history is under threat—would be to stand not with Londoners, but with those seeking to extract profit from their displacement.

“Silence in the face of cultural erasure is not neutrality. It is complicity.”

Let the Legal Process Continue

The path forward is already underway:

• The Public Inquiry is the appropriate forum to assess the application’s impact on planning, culture, and community.
• The community has organised expert witnesses, legal support, and public backing.
• Mayoral intervention at this stage would be not only inappropriate, but deeply disruptive.

In Summary:

Do not call in the Truman Brewery application.
Let the inquiry proceed.
Let the community speak.
Let democratic planning mean something.

Issued by:
ConserveConnect, in support of the Save Brick Lane campaign
team@conserveconnect.com