Hackney Fashion Hub gets the go ahead
Hackney Council’s planning committee has granted permission for The Hackney Fashion Hub on Morning Lane.
The multi-million pound plans will deliver hundreds of new jobs, a world class fashion retail centre and support for Hackney’s design and manufacturing community. The development also comes with a guarantee that at least half of the jobs created will be given to local residents with the Council's Ways into Work team aiming to fill all positions with Hackney people.
The Hub forms part of a wider regeneration programme for Hackney which has received £2m funding from the Mayor of London’s Regeneration Fund. This will include the completion of shop front improvements, one to one business support, the transformation of railway arches into pop up retail outlets and improvement works to the public realm, all of which will help to drive jobs and growth in the area.
The Hackney Fashion Hub is a joint venture between Manhattan Loft Corporation and Chatham Works Limited. It will build on the success of the temporary outlet stores on the site – occupied by Pringle, Aquascutum and Halcyon Days – and The Hackney Shop on Morning Lane, which are already providing jobs for Hackney residents and space free of charge for local designers to sell their products alongside established brands.
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.
Local resident, Priscilla Dacosta, who works at the Aquascutum store spoke in favour of the plans, saying, “The people at the Fashion Hub and Hackney Ways into Work have already done lots to help people like me find a job in Hackney – it’s made a huge difference to my life as this is my first ever job. More jobs in the local area have got to be a good thing.”
The newly approved plans, designed by internationally acclaimed architects Adjaye Associates, will link closely with the refurbished Railway Arches to create an international destination with a distinct local character.
Work has already started to convert the railway arches in Morning Lane between Churchwell Path and Link Street into new retail spaces; also designed by Adjaye Associates these will sit alongside the new development.
Hackney Council, Network Rail and the Mayor of London have provided support for the railway arches conversion.