Deliveroo drivers coming out of Dobson Close

DELIVEROO is preparing to shut down its “dark kitchen” in Swiss Cottage in a victory for campaigning residents.

The New Journal understands the company yesterday (Wednesday) withdrew its appeal against the council’s decision to order them to stop trading last April.

Residents have relentlessly complained about foul smells, noise and chaotic biker behaviour connected to nine kitchens set up next to a residential cul-de-sac in Dobson Close, off the Finchley Road.

Camden Council sent out an email to residents involved in the campaign yesterday confirming that Deliveroo “are relocating their business and will cease operating at the site by the end of May”.

A jubilant Edie Raff, chair of the residents’ association at Cresta House that overlooks the Deliveroo site, said last night: “It’s such great news.”

Deliveroo and Camden Council have been at war since 2017 when the food delivery giant moved into a disused site without any consultation with residents or the Town Hall.

The company’s Editions service – dubbed “dark kitchens” – worked by offering established food companies kitchen space so they do not have to pay the costs of running a high street operation.

Orders are taken through Deliveroo’s app, which are then delivered by riders on bicycles or electric mopeds. A warden has been stationed in Finchley Road during operating hours.

The council had been threatening “enforcement action” against Deliveroo but officials said yesterday this would no longer be necessary with the company agreeing to leave in May.

Residents groups in NW3 and NW6 had combined before last year’s planning meeting with an astonishing 142-page objection slating the company and its practices in forensic detail, while cataloguing hundreds of breaches of an agreed operations management plan (OMP).

At the meeting, Ms Raff had said Deliveroo had failed to properly monitor its riders and prevent cooking smells from invading people’s homes, adding: “It’s time to put an end to all of it and tell Deliveroo to pack up.”

Officers had recommended to the planning committee that Deliveroo should be able to remain trading.

Three Labour Swiss Cottage ward councillors – who were deselected before last year’s council election – had fought hard against Deliveroo.

Yesterday, Conservative Cllr Andrew Parkinson, who has been helping residents, said: “I’m delighted that Deliveroo has finally given up its appeal – no doubt because they knew they were bound to lose.”

Deliveroo could not be reached last night.

But at last year’s hearing, David Ives, property director at Deliveroo, had told the committee how the Editions service had helped struggling companies during the pandemic, adding: “Since our Finchley Road site opened, we have listened carefully to concerns raised by the neighbours.

“We have transformed operations and made sure the site runs more considerately.”