Heartless property company evicts church, nursery and foodbank

 The Pentecostal City Mission Church, long time occupier of 2 Scrubs Lane, Willesden, has been evicted by developers, Fruition Properties. The Mission is a registered Community Asset and operates a nursery, foodbank, dementia care and other local community services which leaves this vital community lifeline in jeopardy. See previous coverage of the threat to the church HERE.

 

The Mayor’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), local MP Andy Slaughter, the GLA’s Culture at Risk team and other community groups have been campaigning to save the church and the services it provides to one of London’s most disadvantaged communities. 

 

Fruition Properties, the developers who are looking to redevelop the site, sought planning permission in 2018. Critical to that permission was that Fruition secured replacement space for the Pentecostal City Mission Church and associated community services as part of the new development. 

 

OPDC, as the local planning authority, has always been very clear that its planning policy requires the re-provision of community floorspace for the Pentecostal City Mission Church within any future scheme on the site. 

 

It is understood that Fruition evicted without warning, on Wednesday 23rd March, entering the building at 7.30 in the morning and changing all the locks, leaving parents unable to drop off their children at the nursery and staff unable to retrieve personal belongings. 

 

Reverend Desmond Hall of Pentecostal City Mission Church said:

We are shocked and saddened that Fruition took possession of this beloved church and vital lifeline for so many community members. As well as a valued place of worship, many families and young children rely on us for support services and food donations. During busy times, we can cater to up to a 1,000 people across one day. What will they do now that Fruition have changed the locks? 

 

We won’t give up hope and with the support of the community, we’ll continue to fight for Pentecostal City Mission Church.

 

David Lunts, CEO of OPDC said: 

 

It is shocking that Fruition Properties have evicted the church. It's hard to believe that with so much local need for services such as this, especially at a time of increasing hardship, any developer could act with such heartlessness. It’s all the more outrageous as our planning policy makes quite clear that space for the church and its community facilities must be part of any redevelopment.

 

I have attempted to engage with Fruition to seek an amicable resolution with the Church, but they have refused to meet.

 

Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith said: 

 

It’s unacceptable and quite frankly unbelievable news to hear that a developer has evicted a church, nursery and foodbank at a time where so many families are under financial strain to put food on the table. I have made my position to Fruition abundantly clear on numerous occasions and they have refused to meet to reach a solution, despite the planning policy clearly requiring provision for the church. 

 

 Cllr Matt Kelcher said:

Councillors, Brent Council, the OPDC and local MPs are all in agreement on this issue and Fruition are doing themselves terrible damage by pursuing this – but there is currently a legal process that needs to be gone through first. When this is resolved we’ll be best placed to plan any next steps.

 

I’m pleased that in the meantime, Brent and OPDC are helping the church to find alternative local premises where possible.