The Respacing Conference and Hustings 2016

“Imagine 150 years from now, The Hive [concept] works, this will be an historical moment” Shaun Bailey, Conservative Party representative and London Assembly candidate.

This event focused on the measurable benefit to the community offered by the more intelligent reuse of wasted resources: The aim, to develop new systems that are flexible, efficient and powerful in delivering solutions for London ahead of the mayoral election. Results, questions and findings were delivered to the London mayoral candidates at the hustings the following day.

Rethink, Recycle, Respace

(Video, 3 mins)

Please support our campaign to reuse empty buildings for social good by signing our 38 Degrees petition

A live stream of the ‘hustings’ is available here
A live stream of the ‘Dragons’ Den’ is available here

As you may know The Hive is an entirely voluntary organisation, as such we haven’t found the time to write our own review of the event, but an excellent first day review is available, courtesy of Keith Parkins.

“The Hive are fortunate in not only having an enlightened local council, but also an enlightened property developer, who wishes to work with the local community, put something back into the local community.

Where else other than The Hive would you find activists praising a property developer, and vice a versa the property developer heaping praise on the activists?”

Day two, the hustings, was reviewed by the Hackney Gazette.

“One question from the audience resulted in the panel all agreeing to sign a Respace Projects petition aimed at the future Mayor of London for a “respacing classification” to be introduced in planning laws.

The system would make it easier for councils, community groups and landlords to work in freeing up empty buildings, like the one they were in, for temporary use.

As it stands, they said, commercial buildings are being wasted as landlords leave them empty for years because of current red-tape issues with meanwhile leases.”

You can find details about the first groundbreaking Respacing Conference here.

Respacing Conference schedule

Wednesday 20th April 10.30am – 5.30pm at The Hive Dalston

11am “Skipping Breakfast” – a blind taste test and introduction to the food cycling revolution.

12-1pm What is respacing?

Introductions from ReSpace Projects and partner organisations; QueerSpace Projects and One Love.

1-2pm Open discussion and compilation of the London Infrastructure Directory

2-3.00pm Holistic Urban Regeneration:

ReSpace Projects will lay out proposals for a system of resource re-use that is proven to provide valuable benefits to local areas and that can massively influence the viability of social enterprises by providing free space, free time and free resources for social good.

Talks from Hackney Community Development and Bite The Ballot

3.00-3:30pm Launch of 38 Degrees campaign, ‘Introduction of the Respace Classification into planning law’

3:30-4:30pm Talking tactics: round up and questions for the London mayoral candidates at Thursday’s hustings

4:30-5:30pm Opportunity for community groups to pitch for their own building. Panellists include:

ReSpace Projects
The Hive’s landlords, Investland
Hackney Community Voluntary Services
Hackney Community Development

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The Hustings – Solutions for London

Thursday 21st April 11.30am – 2pm at The Hive Dalston

11.30-12pm Briefing on the previous day’s conference

12-2pm Hustings, filmed by London Live. Candidates and representatives confirmed so far:

Conservative – Shaun Bailey (representative)
Green – Sian Berry (candidate)
Labour – Tom Copley (representative) DNA
Liberal Democrats – Adrian Trett (representative)
Respect – George Galloway (candidate)

2-4pm Wind down with a selection of entertainments and refreshments and open forums