Hatton Gardens Complex

The lift shaft and basement were in effect the building’s toilets. The difference today is miraculous: the two storey Carlton Gym is bristling with people working off the pressures of work, in a space of 2 500m². The rest of the building is office space. 

OPH came up with an innovative method for evacuating the building before the revamp could begin. Hijacked buildings are usually cleared through a court order, often using the notorious Red Ants company. But OPH didn’t like their inhumane approach of dumping people and their belongings on the street, often in the early morning. OPH also felt that the court route was expensive and time-consuming. Instead, they spent that money on the occupants of the building: they approached each person, and offered them money to vacate the building.  

The payments empowered hundreds of people, allowing some to start their own businesses, others to go home, and others to possibly settle debts. And, has it created goodwill in the precinct, with OPH staff continuing to be warmly greeted on the streets of the precinct by the former occupants.