Regeneration of Haggerston estates gathers pace with new community centre

Over 40 guests, including GLA Assembly Member Jennette Arnold and MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch Meg Hillier, attended a ‘Topping Out’ ceremony at a new community centre currently under construction in Hackney.

The new centre will replace an existing facility next year, and is part of L&Q’s wider regeneration programme for the Haggerston West and Kingsland estates.

The ‘Topping Out’ ceremony marked the overall completion of the new building’s structure and the event included speeches from several stakeholders. The new four storey community centre is scheduled to be handed over to Hackney Council for occupation in Summer 2012. The centre will include a double height hall, kitchens, multi-use classrooms, offices and a nursery.L&Q has identified funding of £250,000 to help with the costs of running the centre.

The Haggerston West and Kingsland estates, situated either side of the Regent's Canal in Hackney, transferred to housing association L&Q in 2008. They consisted of 480 flats which, following extensive resident consultation, is 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 Chief Executive David Montague said, ‘L&Q has been working with Hackney Council and the residents of the Haggerston West and Kingsland estates since October of 2003 and it’s fantastic to see this flagship regeneration project really taking shape. L&Q is committed to investing in local communities and the new community centre will be a valuable resource for our residents.’

Councillor Karen Alcock, Deputy Mayor of Hackney said: “Hackney Council has pledged its commitment to providing 21st century housing and community facilities for residents, meaning not only new homes, but also schools, improved quality of life, and local people taking pride in their new community.’

Local resident Andrea Zimmerman also spoke at the event, and said ‘The new state of the art community centre is big part of this exciting new era for the Haggerston West and Kingsland estates. The regeneration is giving us the opportunity to retain and expand upon existing networks and the new centre's media and educational facilities will be of great benefit to local residents