#hackney council

James Baldwin with anti-racist activists outside the C.L.R. James Library in Hackney, 1985.

Veronica Ryan, Custard Apple (Annonaceae), Breadfruit (Moraceae) and Soursop (Annonaceae), 2021, the UK’s first permanent public sculptures to celebrate and honour the Windrush Generations.

I moved in March and in August I got the letter that they sent me with a cheque for £98 as a refund for my council tax

and I ran through the following emotions real quick

Hackney Council announces innovative partnership approach to further develop social enterprise sector in the Borough

Hackney Social Enterprise ..’ – ‘Photo Credit – Gary Manhine’ “Hackney has a proud history of social enterprise – HCT was founded here back in 1982 – but with this new partnership, it could be a real opportunity to take social enterprise in the borough to the next level.” – Frank Villeneuve-Smith, Communications Director, HCT Group On Wednesday 21st February, representatives from Hackney’s social…

David Attenborough opens Woodberry Wetlands in Stoke Newington

Sir David Attenborough praised the London Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve Woodberry Wetlands for reversing the decline of species in an area of natural beauty which is now open to the public for the first time in 200 years. The site, which is located next to the soon-to-be open Walthamstow Wetlands is now home to prioroty species such as Cetti’s warbler, reed bunting, song thrush and kingfisher,…

Pipe speaks out on Goodsyard

Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe’s has issued his formal response to the current consultation on the proposals for the Bishopsgate Goodsyard.

His open letter to the Mayor of London says that although he supports the principle of high density redevelopment of the Goodsyard site, and that it “represents a fantastic opportunity for regeneration”.

However, Mayor Pipe is opposed to the plan’s scale and housing mix. He says that “it’s entirely possible to design a scheme more appropriate in scale, which generates the right kind of business space for growth and job creation, and provides a good mix of housing, while still meeting reasonable expectations on the part of the developer”.

He criticises Hammerson and Ballymore, the joint developer, for showing “very little interest in collaboration”, and producing something which “serves primarily their financial interests”.

He feels the scheme, with towers of 47 and 39 storeys among 12 buildings is too tall for the location.

Pipe provides significant criticism of the developers’ economic viability assessment, which suggests no affordable content for the scheme would be appropriate, although they have included 10%. The council commissioned their own assessment, which concluded that 30% affordable was easily possible, together with a further offsite contribution of £12m.

He also crticises the amount and type of proposed commercial space, saying it “brings no value to Tech City and could actually lead to the dissipation of this growing and increasingly renowned cluster of design and tech companies”.

He says: “As it stands, this scheme will serve primarily to line the pockets of developers and property investors and is an example of everything that is wrong with the capital’s property and development market.”

Hackney Council declares opposition to the Silvertown Tunnel

Hackney Council has demanded the toxic Silvertown Tunnel road scheme is axed – adding pressure on London’s mayoral hopefuls to pledge to abandon the controversial road scheme. A motion put before the council on Wednesday night called for the £1bn tunnel, between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks, to be scrapped because it would increase traffic and air pollution across east London. “You…