Fitzrovia – Stanhope dumps Noho and courts Fitzrovia Gardeners

Stanhope plc the new developer of the former Middlesex Hospital site has delighted local people with their plans to abandon the name Noho and to allow garden allotments on the site for at least 12 months.
In a November letter to people living around the site Stanhope stated that architect Allies & Morrison will design a new scheme which will be “broadly similar” to the previous agreed proposal of a “mixed-use development including residential and commercial space with high quality public realm, but will be more appropriate to the area and today’s market”.
The letter also stated that they have decided to drop the name Noho Square and will refer to the site as “the former Middlesex Hospital site”.
Stanhope have now formally offered an 800 square metre space for garden allotments on the for use by local people subject to certain conditions being met and planning permission.
Stanhope will provide security and facilities on the site but the Fitzrovia Gardeners will have to raise the funds to get the soil for the allotments and manage the project.
The Fitzrovia Gardeners said they are delighted with this news, but there is still a great deal of work to be done to make this happen, and they don’t want to raise any false expectations.
Bloomsbury ward councillor Rebecca Hossack who ran a successful publicity campaign to bring allotments onto the site has identified funds for the project.
The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association will also provide support to the Fitzrovia Gardeners.