Hackney Council Approves New Affordable Housing on Kingsland Road

Hackney Council has approved plans for 200 new genuinely affordable homes on a former industrial site on Kingsland Road, in what community groups are calling a landmark decision for the borough's housing crisis.

The development, which replaces a disused warehouse complex between Dalston and Haggerston, will deliver 100 homes at social rent levels — pegged to local incomes rather than market rates. A further 60 units will be offered through shared ownership, with the remaining 40 available at London Living Rent.

The decision follows a two-year campaign by the Kingsland Road Housing Action Group, a coalition of local tenants' associations, housing charities and community organisations who argued that any development on the publicly owned site must prioritise genuinely affordable homes over luxury flats.

"This is what happens when communities organise and refuse to accept the status quo," said Maria Okonkwo, chair of the Kingsland Road Housing Action Group. "For too long, developments in Hackney have promised 'affordable' housing that is anything but. These homes will actually be affordable to the people who already live here."

Council leader Philip Glanville described the approval as "a statement of intent" about Hackney's approach to development. "We are proving that you can build high-quality, sustainable housing that serves existing communities rather than displacing them," he said at the planning committee meeting.

The scheme, designed by Mikhail Riches Architects, features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments arranged around shared courtyard gardens. The buildings will be built to Passivhaus standards, dramatically reducing energy bills for residents. Ground-floor commercial units will provide space for local businesses at below-market rents.

Not everyone is satisfied, however. Some campaigners had pushed for 100% social rent across the entire development. "Shared ownership is still out of reach for many Hackney families," argued James Elliot of the Hackney Renters Union. "But we recognise this is a significant step in the right direction."

Construction is expected to begin in autumn 2026, with the first residents moving in by early 2028. A community liaison committee will be established to ensure local input throughout the building process.

The approval comes as Hackney faces mounting pressure on housing, with the council's waiting list now exceeding 14,000 households and average private rents for a one-bedroom flat reaching £1,850 per month.