Trespassers Forcibly Removed from Office Building Above Fulham Marks and Spencer
Trespassers have been officially evicted from an office building situated directly above a West London Marks and Spencer supermarket, following their unauthorized entry last December. The Metropolitan Police successfully obtained a three-month closure order for the premises at 2 to 6 Fulham Broadway, which includes Broadway House, in early January.
Court-Ordered Closure and Property Details
Paperwork visibly attached to the front of Broadway House confirms the building is currently under a strict closure order issued by Westminster Magistrates’ Court. This legal directive explicitly prohibits entry by anyone except the landlord, emergency services, or local council authorities for the duration of three months.
A spokesperson for the landlord, Romulus Constructions, verified to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the company pursued the order after the trespassers illegally accessed the building. Romulus Constructions is now actively engaged in clearing up the damage caused during the occupation.
The affected property encompasses office and educational space above a newly opened Marks and Spencer supermarket at ground level, as well as the adjacent building to its left. Importantly, the Marks and Spencer store itself remained completely unaffected by both the trespassing incident and the subsequent closure order.
Legal Grounds and Police Statement
The closure order, dated January 8, was granted after the Met Police presented evidence to the court. The magistrates were satisfied that individuals or a group had engaged, or were likely to engage, in disorderly behaviour on the premises. This behaviour was deemed likely to cause serious nuisance to the public and could lead to disorder in the vicinity.
A Met Police spokesperson stated: “On Thursday, 8 January officers from Fulham Safer Neighbourhood Team successfully obtained a three-month closure order for 2-6 Fulham Broadway from Westminster Magistrates’ Court. This represents the latest development in ongoing efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area. The closure order will initially be in place for three months after the date of issue. No one without the relevant owner or police authority can enter the premises.”
Additional Notices and Local Context
In addition to the closure order, a notice of discontinuance is also posted on Broadway House, indicating that Romulus Constructions has halted a civil claim it was previously pursuing. This development occurs against a backdrop of similar incidents in the Fulham area.
In 2024, squatters occupied another vacant building, the former nightclub The Redback, where at least one unlicensed music event was reportedly held before police intervention. Nearby, the old Fulham Town Hall, a Grade II*-listed building, remains largely vacant except for live-in guardians. Plans to convert it into a hotel and co-working space were approved in 2020, but progress has been minimal since then.
The ongoing efforts by authorities and property owners highlight the challenges of managing vacant properties and combating anti-social behaviour in urban areas like Fulham.
