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## South Bank Businesses Given Notice to Move Out

By Victoria Cook & Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News

Posted: 42 minutes ago

*Image source: Robert Firth*

**Image caption: Protests have been held against the eviction**

A group of small businesses trading from an arts space on London’s South Bank have been told they need to move out in the new year. Landowners Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation say the site will be developed into Lambeth’s biggest-ever office development. The foundation states that it had always planned to end its lease to Eat Work Play at Old Paradise Yard on 30 January 2024. However, traders have expressed disappointment, arguing that they were expecting more notice.

Lambeth Council approved the new office-led development, which will cover an area the size of 27 football pitches, in December. But in August, Housing Secretary Michael Gove ordered the project to halt while he decided whether to hold a public inquiry into the proposals. Since receiving the notice to leave, businesses from Old Paradise Yard and supporters from the local community have organized protests outside the foundation’s headquarters in central London. They believe that the lease could be extended while the project remains on hold.

Candice Desmet, who runs Act’In Theatre from Old Paradise Yard, believes the foundation is refusing to extend the lease as punishment for businesses objecting to the redevelopment plans in the past. She expressed concern over the impact on her business, stating, “It’s unique what we have here. They are destroying our premises, and it will destabilize the business. I don’t have a plan B.” Leo Lawson O’Neil, director of Eat Work Play, which rents out the studios to the traders, criticized the foundation’s decision not to renew the lease while the development plans were on hold, calling it “outrageous.” He emphasized that they were promised a discussion, sufficient notice, and a mutually beneficial plan.

In response, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation released a statement clarifying that the end of the five-year lease at Old Paradise Yard should not be misconstrued as an eviction. They asserted that the lease was always set to conclude on 30 January 2024, independent of objections to future plans for the site.

The situation faced by the businesses trading from Old Paradise Yard on London’s South Bank highlights the need for legal support and guidance. One potential solution is the use of an AI legalese decoder, which can assist in understanding complex legal terminology and contractual obligations. By utilizing this tool, business owners can gain clarity on lease agreements, better navigate legal disputes, and make more informed decisions regarding their rights and interests. With the help of AI technology, individuals can level the playing field and ensure that their rights are protected throughout the process.

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