Growth, prosperity, and importance of London

Soho is a unique place that has constantly reinvented itself over the years. Soho has always been a place of tolerance and inclusion no matter the decade. Through the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Soho remained an underdeveloped area in the middle of the West End and became a known as the "sex centre" of the city.

The nostalgia for that is somewhat skewed, depending on who is telling the story.

Residential accommodation was poor and only started improving in the 90s. Pre and Post WW2 multiple families lived above any shop and street level in Soho. We all admire the changes and improvement in living conditions which have not come at the cost of the local culture.

To maintain London's place as a world beating capital it is important to encourage growth and development. The West End is the centre of our capital. It carries the finest art, theatre, culture, hospitality entertainment, and shopping which we must encourage and support to continue to be attractive to visitors world-wide.

Westminster City Council must recognise that growth cannot be restricted to only what a minority of residents will accept.

Alfresco was an emergency measure that undoubtedly saved the Hospitality industry in Soho. It was well run and many people came back to the West End to enjoy street dinning.

Without outdoor eating, the country and especially Soho, would have many empty restaurant premises which would still be empty today, awaiting new enterprise.

The small fraction of anti-Alfresco residents repeatedly show footage of the 4th of July, when the entire country was let loose and the streets were packed everywhere. To describe Alfresco using these images is false, and not the pleasant well run and business saving model it was.

Previous councillors had to deal with the pandemic and although they are not known to be the most commercial minded individuals, they acted fast and were proactive and pragmatic to save jobs, businesses and lives.

WCC issued 112 licences to trade outside in Soho. Each license was a lifeline and was well run by people who are deemed fit and proper to hold a licence by the Local Authority.

Other areas have since embraced Alfresco as a pleasant improvement to the street scene and some areas have made parts of this change into a permanent fixture.

Unfortunately, the residential complaints made Alfresco a toxic issue and a vote looser to the Conservatives and a vote looser to the new Labour Councillors.

Instead of praise for the success of saving a thriving business community, many jobs, lives and peoples mental health,? anyone connected to Alfresco was treated as the enemy.

The local Councillors are elected by about one thousand votes out of a residential population of about three thousand five hundred.

My conclusion is that two thousand five hundred people are happy to reside in Soho and accept it is a business area in the middle of a major city.

The Soho Society objected to over 86 planning applications last year and supported one. Sensibly all the planning applications were approved so there are people in power with an eye on the future for growth and prosperity.

The Soho Business Alliance was formed out of this adversity because there was no voice for business and as business do not have a vote there is seldom interest from local politicians.

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Business is a net contributor to the local economy and successful business continue to contribute.

Soho has enjoyed a growth in residential development and there are many flats which are one million plus. The owners of all residential property have also benefitted from The Soho Effect in rising house values. I don’t think it is fair to say millionaire residents complain about licensing for late night premises, it is fair to say that people have complained, not all millionaires, but any owner of property has seen an excellent rise in value in the last 10 years. This is the Soho effect, and this should be encouraged not stifled.

It is little understood that rent is not set by the landlord, but what the market will pay.? It is also common to blame Landlords with reference to rent, if this were true there would be many empty premises and rents would fall but this is not the case in Soho.

It’s a common misconception that high rent cause failing business, viable business will choose the area and rates most suitable to their business. To open a business in Soho is considered an achievement by most.

Soho Estates will continue to be a stakeholder in Soho for generations to come and will continue to support and respect the conservation of historic Soho, but it is vital to understand it remains a business area. Post Covid we have seen a change in working practices and therefore need to embrace a new way of working which requires improved landlord-tenant cooperation for mutual growth. I hope to see this growth? finally encouraged as it is something we invest in for now and the future.

John James is MD of Soho Estates Ltd a generational family business.