In response to this petition by Acklam Village Market Ltd, Westway Trust would like to point out the following facts:

  1. This land which is currently occupied by Acklam Village Market Ltd forms part of a 23-acre estate which Westway Trust stewards for the primary benefit of the community and residents in the five wards of North Kensington.
  2. Acklam Village Market Ltd is a private commercial business that currently operates on this community land one day per week.
  3. The investment by Westway Trust will result in an expanded market area, and a safer market space for tenants, traders and visitors.
  4. The investment by Westway Trust has been matched with funding from the GLA as part of their 'Good Growth Fund'.
  5. Plans to invest in the redevelopment of the community space around Acklam Village have been in development for many years and come from an extensive community consultation for 'Westway Community Street'. A full report on the consultation and co-design of the Westway Community Street is available at Lugadero Co-Design Report (communitystreet.org)
  6. The current licensees (Acklam Village Market Ltd) have been on a time-limited license for some time, pending the planned development works. The licensees took part in the Westway Community Street consultation and co-design.

The work you see happening across the Acklam Road & Acklam Village site is about investing and upgrading the estate for community use after the current license agreement comes to an end.

Westway Trust's investment in this space has been planned for some time. The investment is necessary not only to broaden the scope of community use for the space, but to bring the space into a state of repair that complies with health and safety standards. This investment means there will be a new open-air venue and an expanded area for the market. We will also soon have another new venue for live music to build on the excellent refurbishment at UNDR, 3-5 Thorpe Close. 

The private commercial licensee (Acklam Village Market Ltd) has been fully aware that building works to improve the area were due to happen, and were given appropriate legal notice to vacate. The terms of the time-limited license with the commercial licensee reflect this.

Westway Trust is the custodian of 23 acres of community land underneath the Westway flyover. First and foremost, this is community land. There is always pressure on the land on the Westway estate, and having listened to our communities, we understand that any new space must be available every day of the week, which unfortunately has not been the case.  

There will be further open consultation and work with the community about the potential of the Acklam Road site. In the meantime, we recognise the need for space now, so we will ensure impactful meanwhile use.

Related links: Acklam Square | Westway Community Street | North Kensington