Save BDI - legendary photographic darkroom

The Issue

BDI,  the legendary London photographic darkroom. A genuinely local business with a huge international reputation. Where a great many of the most iconic images in Fashion and advertising in the last 25 years were printed for the ultra loyal clientele of the worlds top fashion and advertising photographers. A very special place - one still with a soul - bucking the trend by thriving in the turmoil of technological change by still being the only option to go to for a new generation of demanding image makers for whom the human and personal relationship is the 'icing on the cake' ingredient.

This petition will be sent to the people of Islington Council along with actual signatures collected from the people who live in this area as support and in protest of the council's planned developments.

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BD ImagesPetition Starter
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This petition had 2,214 supporters

The Issue

BDI,  the legendary London photographic darkroom. A genuinely local business with a huge international reputation. Where a great many of the most iconic images in Fashion and advertising in the last 25 years were printed for the ultra loyal clientele of the worlds top fashion and advertising photographers. A very special place - one still with a soul - bucking the trend by thriving in the turmoil of technological change by still being the only option to go to for a new generation of demanding image makers for whom the human and personal relationship is the 'icing on the cake' ingredient.

This petition will be sent to the people of Islington Council along with actual signatures collected from the people who live in this area as support and in protest of the council's planned developments.

avatar of the starter
BD ImagesPetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

Cllr. James Murray
Cllr. James Murray
Islington Council Executive Member for Housing & Development
Responded
“Thank you for getting in touch about BDI and their premises on Old Street. As shown by the number of signatures on the petition you signed, BDI has a great reputation and attracts wide affection. I wanted to explain how the current situation has come about. In Islington, we desperately need more affordable housing, and our council is determined to make this happen. We therefore have a very ambitious programme to build more affordable housing – and in particular to build more council homes for social rent on land the council owns. That’s why at the Redbrick estate – the council estate behind BDI’s premises – we’re planning to build 35 new council homes. All these homes will be let first to nearby council tenants and their families who need somewhere better to live but who are very unlikely to be able to afford any private options in the area. The redevelopment will include the demolition of the commercial premises that the council owns where BDI is located as well as Spectrum and the Old Street Dental Clinic. Alongside the 35 council homes, the redevelopment will include around 20 homes for sale, because the proceeds from them are needed to finance the new council housing we are building as well a new community centre. All the homes for sale are offered first to people currently renting in Islington – meaning that buy-to-let and buy-to-leave investors are banned. As part of the redevelopment, we will also be re-providing commercial space. We thought we could offer this to BDI, but it looks like this won’t work since we understand the costs of a temporary relocation whilst the development is going on could be prohibitive for BDI. They are looking for a permanent relocation and so we have been helping them to find alternative premises nearby. Earlier in the year, we showed Brian Dowling some of the nearby vacant garages the council owns. We thought these could be converted to suit the needs of BDI and be offered on a long lease at an affordable rent. Unfortunately I understand the converted garages proposal wasn’t considered suitable by BDI – but we are still keen to keep liaising with BDI to keep them updated on progress with our plans as well as making them aware of any other council relocation possibilities. We will keep looking for other options of places the council owns, and any other ideas we have. I hope there may still be time to find an alternative location for BDI, since we don’t need vacant possession of the premises until expiry of the current lease in September 2015. I hope this helps explain how the current situation has come about, and what we’re doing to help find a suitable premises nearby for BDI whilst we build the new community centre and 35 new council homes. Thank you again for getting in touch. ”
Rakhia Ismail
Rakhia Ismail
Islington Council Executive Member for Community Development
Troy Gallagher
Troy Gallagher
Councillor Islington
Robert Khan
Robert Khan
Councillor Islington
Claudia Webbe
Claudia Webbe
Councillor Islington

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Petition created on 5 June 2014