Hackney (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Proposals for 115-119 Wallis Road include 337 co-living homes and a base for Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Development Trust (HWFI CDT) to preserve local culture.
Hackney Wick’s recently approved housing and workspace plans have received local support, a unique achievement that a community group has lauded as a “signal” to developers worldwide.
It is the result of a creative collaboration between developers Halcyon and HWFI CDT to build a site for desperately needed homes that will also have a significant impact on the neighborhood.
Three mid century warehouses will be transformed into Hackney’s first co-living complex as part of the ensuing development, which is anticipated to open in 2028 and provide a new type of rental housing.
Additionally, the plans include public spaces including a courtyard and a new plaza adjacent to the old Eton Mission Rowing Club.
The designs, created by Hackney architects Morris & Company, were recently approved by the London Legacy Development Corporation in one of its last acts before returning planning authority to the four Olympic boroughs.
Patrick Scally, executive lead at HWFI CDT, said:
“To preserve the rich social fabric of Hackney Wick, we believe that the community should not just be beneficiaries, but owners of the change they see in their neighbourhood.
This site will deliver against that mission and sends a signal for all in the development sector to hear.
The time is now to believe in our communities, give our communities voice and let them truly shape their future.”
Currently, HWFI CDT uses the location to operate The Loop, a circular economy hub that provides local business owners looking to support the environment with reasonably priced workspace.
Halcyon has committed to providing HWFI CDT with a space as part of the reconstruction, free of rent for a minimum of 99 years.
“In addition to securing the regeneration of this important site, we are looking forward to providing the Hackney Wick and Fish Island Community Development Trust with a long-term home, enabling fantastic opportunities for Hackney’s creative industries,”
said Neil MacLeod, founding partner at Halcyon and a local resident.
This is a partnership we hope can be replicated across the development sector in London, ensuring that local people benefit meaningfully from development.”
The benefits of co-living were already being experienced by tenants at Halcyon’s other buildings in Harrow, Earlsfield, and Battersea, who were “not suffering from the typical historical problems that have plagued the private rented sector, including poor quality accommodation, loneliness, and negligent landlord practices.”
What are the key aspects of the proposal?
There are 337 studio units with shared utilities spread across two blocks of the development, one of which is five stories and the other is eight stories. The goal of this co-living concept is to encourage social interaction between inhabitants.
A long-term foundation for the Hackney Wick and Fish Island Community Development Trust (HWFI CDT) is incorporated into the project. The goal of this collaboration is to protect the region’s cultural heritage while making sure that the development complements neighborhood projects.
The ground floor will have a cafe along the canal and reasonably priced office space, giving local companies a chance to thrive and boosting the area’s social and economic vibrancy.
The industrial past of Hackney Wick and its transformation into a cultural centre served as inspiration for the development’s architecture. With its excellent streetscapes and courtyards, the architecture complements the lively nature of the neighborhood.