Green-light for workshop and flats block opposite Shacklewell gallery
Shipping containers in Miller’s Avenue, Shacklewell, are set for a revamp. Photograph: Hackney Citizen
Plans to build a two-story block opposite an artists’ studio in Shacklewell have received the go-ahead from Hackney Town Hall.
The proposal to replace shipping containers in Miller’s Avenue, off Arcola Street, with a workshop and two flats – a one bedroom and a two-bedroom – was approved last night (7 March) by Hackney’s planning sub-committee.
Sixteen people objected to the plans in a public consultation last May, after the council sent letters to 114 neighbours.
Concerns included “loss of daylight and sunlight” to the Print Club artists’ studio and gallery, which is directly opposite the site, and whether the scheme is the best use of the space.
An earlier version of the plans with bigger rooms – 57 square metres and 77 square metres – and a third storey was dropped, though the new plans still cover a total of 590 square metres.
The site falls within the Dalston Conservation Area, though a council planning report says the nearest listed building is on Stoke Newington Road.
Hackney Council is set to raise £25,460 from the development through its Community Infrastructure Levy.
Aled Richards, director of public realm at Hackney Council, said in his report backing the scheme: “Concerns were previously made with regard to whether the proposed development was optimising the potential of the site.
“Both units were considered to be relatively excessive in size and unwarranted in their layouts and made an inefficient use of the available space.”
He goes on: “During the course of the application, revisions were received which have reduced the overall scale of the proposed development.
“Following these revisions, it is considered that the units are of an appropriate size, and that the development as a whole optimises the site without resulting in overdevelopment.”
UPDATE: This story has been amended to say that the development includes a workshop.