Business group apologises for out-of-hours noise from ‘Rabbit Warren’ removal

The Fitzrovia Partnership, which runs two business improvement districts in the neighbourhood, has apologised to residents in Warren Street after its contractors set to work demolishing a large, leporine marketing gimmick before 8am — in breach of noise pollution regulations.

The way-finding bunny-themed mural and plastic rabbits were created by architects and structural engineers Able Partners and Elliott Wood for a series of events organised by The Partnership in June to promote Fitzrovia as a shopping, eating and drinking destination.

As a temporary marketing installation — which included giant plastic carrots outside the tube station — it was designed to promote a “re-imagined” Warren Street as part of the London Festival of Architecture.

The Fitzrovia Partnership works with Camden Council to promote good business practice and sustainability. 

But on Wednesday morning a poor example was set as residents on Warren Street heard “drilling, hammering and shouting” shortly after 7am — in breach of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 — as fibreglass bunnies and timber hoardings were dismantled.

Noisy work is not supposed to be done outside of the hours of 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday. No noisy work is permitted on Sundays or public holidays.

The Fitzrovia Partnership issued a prompt apology for the disturbance when contacted by The Fitzrovia News.

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention and The Fitzrovia Partnership is very sorry for the inconvenience caused to the residents on Warren Street and surrounding area by the noisy work before 8am,” said Bee de Soto, head of marketing and communications.

“We try to consider and collaborate with all members of the Fitzrovia community when undertaking any works, events, interventions and improvements in the area.

“I myself am a local resident and represent the community’s interests at all levels. In this instance, the work started too early, for which we apologise. We will work with our contractors to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” she said.

Noise from commercial premises and construction work is a bugbear for local residents. It is one of most complained about issues to local councillors, and The Fitzrovia News.

Both Camden and Westminster councils have teams of officers tasked with tackling noise nuisance, including disturbance from out-of-hours construction work.

Residents can complain to Camden Council if noisy work such as demolition and construction is done outside of these times via its website. Across the borough boundary residents can complain to Westminster about breaches here.