Full steam ahead for Haggerston West and Kingsland Estates regeneration

The regeneration of the Haggerston West and Kingsland Estates took a significant step forward last week, as Hackney Borough Council granted planning approval for Phase 2 of the development. L&Q have now secured all the planning approval necessary to progress with their ambitious plans for the area.

The Haggerston West and Kingsland estates, situated either side of the Regent's Canal in Hackney, transferred to L&Q in 2008. They consisted of 480 flats which, following extensive resident consultation, are being demolished to be replaced with 761 new flats and houses. The new development will provide homes for existing residents as well as a mix of new homes for rent, shared ownership and private sale.

L&Q are delivering the regeneration in partnership with Hackney Borough Council, local residents, PRP architects and contractors Taylor Wimpey. Construction work will begin on Phase 2 in summer 2012, with a total of 394 new homes to be built, spread over five blocks. Phase 1, consisting of 367 new homes and a brand new state of the art community centre, has been in construction since 2010, with the first three residential blocks due for completion next summer.

Graham Girling, L&Q’s Project Manager, Regeneration, said, “This is a major milestone in the exciting regeneration of the Haggerston West and Kingsland Estates. Hackney Council’s planning approval is testament to the hard work that L&Q and our project team partners have put in, together with residents, to get us to this stage.

“This flagship regeneration project is already taking shape, and achieving Phase 2 planning approval means it is now full steam ahead to progress with the construction of the final stage of the scheme, which will meet the needs and aspirations of our residents. The regeneration will provide fantastic new homes and community facilities, helping L&Q deliver on our commitment to invest in local communities and create places where people want to live.”

Brendan Kilpatrick, Partner at PRP Architects comments: “Its great news to receive planning consent for phase two as it’s such a significant regeneration project at a time when large scale regeneration is becoming more difficult. The scheme will transform the area spanning both North and South of the Regents Canal in Hackney. The design is contemporary whilst addressing local context and has had real involvement with local residents. The client L&Q has also been completely supportive in all aspects of the design development.”

Debra Herring, a local resident and Chair of the Haggerston & Kingsland Estates Development and Management Committee, spoke on behalf of the residents at the planning committee meeting. Afterwards she said, “There is a whole community here who have collaborated to bring this scheme together for the good of all; all the choices have truly been collective. When the development is finished, residents will be left with an estate to be proud of. Residents have taken ownership of the decisions around their estates by becoming involved and this will be the lasting legacy of this project with L&Q.”