Hackney Central Town Centre Strategy

Hackney Central is changing, and through this change it’s crucial to ensure that the town centre remains a place for everyone – a place that recognises its past and present whilst looking ahead. With the aim of making Hackney Central fairer, safer, and more sustainable, We Made That created a strategy which lays out a vision and delivery plan for the next 10 years.

We led a skilled team to analyse existing data, develop a clear vision and provide a pragmatic yet ambitious delivery plan, resulting in a clear trajectory for Hackney Central. The strategy recognises and builds on Hackney’s unique culture, heritage and distinct neighbourhoods to support the area’s diverse communities.

We worked closely alongside our long-term collaborators and economic regeneration specialists, PRD, with further supporting specialisms targeting distinct areas of potential; including engagement specialist, Maayan Ashkenazi who helped ensure that the ambitions of Hackney Central’s communities are at the heart of the vision. Specialist strategic heritage advice from Authentic Futures, ecology, green infrastructure, sustainability and SuDS expertise from the Green Infrastructure Consultancy, and cost advice from quantity surveyors, Stockdale completed the team.

The strategy was informed by an extensive period of research and engagement with the local community and stakeholders, involving over 1,500 participants. A thorough review of the spatial, social, and economic characteristics of Hackney Central was undertaken, followed by a variety of co- delivered engagement events, conversations, and surveys to identify which challenges should be prioritised through the lens of local knowledge. Community members raised concerns over inequality, affordability, safety, economic opportunity, sustainability, the existing quality of the public realm, traffic, pollution, and lack of active travel options across the area.

The strategy champions projects that can be achieved through collective action between the public sector, private sector, and the wider community. Proposals include a review of Hackney Central’s existing affordable and healthy food landscape, and improved wayfinding around Hackney Central Station.

The strategy led to a successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund, resulting in over £19m of investment to support walking and cycling, improvements to heritage assets like Town Hall Square, and delivery of new and improved community space in under-used or vacant spaces in the centre.