The Gabriel’s Wharf Tenants Association, representing around 20 independent businesses on London’s South Bank, has called for urgent engagement with Lambeth Council and relevant stakeholders over proposed redevelopment plans that would see the phased clearance of Gabriel’s Wharf and termination of existing commercial leases.
The tenants—operating across food, retail, and designer-maker sectors—collectively support an estimated 130 jobs and form a long-established independent business community within the South Bank area.
The Association has raised concerns that tenants have been instructed to vacate the site at the end of current lease terms, without confirmed relocation support, phased decanting arrangements, or structured inclusion in future redevelopment plans.
It warns that the proposals risk the loss of a significant cluster of independent businesses, with some tenants having operated at Gabriel’s Wharf for 20 to 30 years, including one tenancy of approximately 25 years.
The group is requesting clarity on whether an economic impact assessment has been carried out and whether mitigation measures such as relocation assistance, transitional support, or Section 106 obligations are being considered as part of the redevelopment process.
The tenants also highlight the wider South Bank context, noting that regeneration in the area has historically been associated with social value-led approaches, including the work of Coin Street Community Builders. They argue that any redevelopment should reflect similar principles of long-term stewardship and community benefit.
A spokesperson for the Association said the businesses represent “a long-standing and established part of the South Bank’s cultural and economic fabric” and stressed that redevelopment should not proceed without meaningful mitigation for displaced traders.
The Association is calling for immediate engagement to explore relocation options, continuity measures, and fair treatment of existing tenants.
