Hackney Council says yes to Morning Lane fashion hub development
Permission granted: The Hackney Fashion Hub. Image: Manhattan Loft Corporation Ltd
Developers have been given the green light to build a multi-million pound retail complex for high end fashion lovers.
Brand names will rub shoulders with local designers in the eight storey ‘fashion hub’ in Morning Lane – branded a ‘supermodel development’ by critics.
Hackney Council’s planning subcommittee voted to approve the plans by Manhattan Loft Corporation and Chatham Works which will result in the demolition of the Duke of Wellington pub – now a Pringle clothing outlet.
Around £1.5million from the Greater London Authority’s post-riot fund – cash meant to help properties and businesses damaged during the 2011 riots – is being used as part of the scheme designed by architects Adjaye Associates.
Harry Handelsman, Chief Executive of the Manhattan Loft Corporation, said: “We are delighted that these visionary plans have been granted permission. We can now start delivering the plans that will create a new fashion destination that will provide new jobs in the area and extra footfall to existing local shops.”
Jack Basrawy of Chatham Works said: “The go-ahead for the Hackney Fashion Hub is great news for Hackney’s up-and-coming designers. We can now start to deliver on our promise of a new Stitching Academy and the Hackney Fashion Hub Trust. These plans will provide support for local designers and manufacturers with training, access to top range equipment and new apprenticeships for local people.”
However, Nick Perry, representing The Hackney Society and the Clapton Conservation Area Advisory Committee, told last night’s meeting that the project was “trying to shoehorn too much” into a small area of land and questioned whether the infrastructure in the surrounding area was sufficient to support the scheme.
He said: “The oppressive height and scale of the two buildings does not respect the visual integrity of the area on the fringe of Hackney’s first designated conservation area.”
‘Wrong place’
In a letter to the sub-committee The Hackney Society wrote: “The Fashion Hub is ultimately a grand, exciting and innovative idea, but rapidly implanted in the wrong place and without major infrastructure changes needed to support it. We can ill afford to treat this as a ‘test’ concept because if it fails we will inevitably end up with residential conversions that will spin the fashion hub into a not-so-fashionable flat tyre.”
James Watson of the Churchwell Residents’ Group told councillors: “If this scheme goes ahead these guys [the developers] stand to make a lot of money on the back of Hackney being the coolest borough. Please on our behalf ensure that the impoverished and those who live locally see their slice of the design and fashion cake.”
Six of the seven councillors in attendance voted in favour, with the remaining councillor – Barry Buitekant – abstaining.
Plans for an illuminated external ‘media screen’ will be subject to further negotiation between the developers and the council.
The site was a gravel pit in the 1800s and is within an area that has been the subject of numerous regeneration schemes over the years, including proposals for a 13-storey residential development on the site of the nearby Tesco supermarket, which the council refused permission for in 2010.
Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “This decision marks the beginning of the next stage of work to bring The Hackney Fashion Hub to life. We are working with a range of partners who share our vision of bringing this world-class development to Hackney Central for local people.
“One of the key goals for us is that the Fashion Hub creates local jobs and opportunities for residents to create new business. It’s crucial that new developments like this benefit the whole community, including existing businesses and town centres.”
*Slow handclap*
Thanks guys (and Guy) for sending the people’s money straight out of the borough, for the benefit of shoppers from out of the borough, and shop owners from, you guessed it, out of the borough.
How many jobs for Hackney people will this create? Let’s have a sweepstake. I’m going for 12.
Can’t begin to put into words what a bad idea this is. Damn Hackney Council.
Demolition of a pub, illuminated media screen, high end brands – sounds horrendous.
I questioned the validity of the ‘jobs’ statement and was given a vague response that didn’t fill me with confidence.
There were no figures provided, no specific initiatives for long-term unemployed in Hackney, no community development plan presented – I could go on.
To top it all off, they see this as the height of regeneration and innovation in the borough which of course is at the expense of communities here.
If you’ve ever attended a Hackney planning committee meeting you’ll see how unanimously they vote for every new monstrosity without question – it’s the pound signs in extra council revenue generated by guaranteed business rates, council tax and huge building fees that is blinding them to the long term social implications. Economic short-termism is the order of the day at the throughout local and central government and it’ll return haunt us all in the not too distant future.
Will the road be wide enough? As already it can be a tight squeeze cycling towards an oncoming fast car in between the parked cars.
I don’t believe you Hackney Council, I don’t believe that it will bring jobs into the area for local people, this is about making money for top brands and opportunities for monied people. All this same ‘guff’ about jobs and opportunities for local people was spun around the Olympics, anyone know anyone that got a PAID job out of that?
It is a condition of funding for The Fashion Hub that at least half of all jobs go to local residents. We’re already exceeding this and we are determined to achieve much higher figures. At the flagship Aquascutum store, 25 of 26 jobs created went to local people – two of them feature in a video here: http://news.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-fashion-hub-gets-the-go-ahead/
Recruitment for The Fashion Hub is managed through our Ways into Work programme, which has already helped 4,300 people into work and apprenticeships since 2010. In addition more than 2,000 people were helped into paid work during the Olympics.
Some facts about whats happening on Morning lane and Hackney Fashion Hub Arches..
All local businesses forced out from the arches by Network Rail..
They have been scared by law-sharks with court letters, bailiffs etc.. 118 people lost their jobs already.
Rents are sky high (already) in the area..
You may never hear their stories since MP`s and Newspapers (they have contacted) are keeping it hush hush..
Well done Hackney Council for looking after developers pockets once again..!
“Manhatten Loft Corporation”
Says it all really.
Still I’m sure Jahmima, Tarquin and Phyllis slumming it in the East End will be sorted.
@Hackney Spokesperson
Thank you for letting us know of the conditions. It is important information like this that is not communicated clearly, which then understandably leaves us a bit cycnical.
Apprenticeships? If it is the Council’s view that apprenticeships are ‘work’, rather than a training programme, then why don’t they get the living wage?