Nightingale Estate

In 2017, we received planning permission for new homes on the Nightingale Estate, including 52 homes for social rent.

The phasing plan approved in 2017 was for us to build Blocks A, B and C first, followed by Blocks D and E and improvements to the estate’s wider public realm.

We have now submitted an application for a Section 73 planning amendment. It will change the old plans so that we can deliver Block E first. All the homes in it will be council homes for social rent.

We have since secured additional funding and will increase the number of new homes for social rent to at least 70.

We will keep this under review, as we hope that it will be possible to deliver more homes for social rent in the later stages of the project.

We will deliver Block E first now that the planning amendment is approved.

We received planning permission in 2017 for 400 new homes. These will include:

• at least 70 new social rent homes for local residents in housing need
• up to 54 homes for shared ownership for people living or working in Hackney who can’t afford to buy outright but won’t be prioritised for social housing
• 276 homes sold outright to help pay for the project in the absence of sufficient government funding

The shared ownership homes will be sold and marketed to local residents by our in-house sales team, Hackney Sales.

The approved master plan includes a number of improvements to the open spaces on the estate, including Olympus Green.

Olympus Green

We’re keen to make Olympus Green a safer, greener and more attractive space in the heart of the estate. Our plans include:

• more planting at the edges of the Green
• more benches, picnic tables and seating areas
• new play equipment including natural play features, logs and stepping stones
• urban gym equipment
• new and improved paths and surfaces
• better lighting throughout the Green.

We are also working with the users of the current community hall to create a temporary community centre between Muir Road and Seaton Point.

As well as new homes, the regeneration will include improvements to public spaces across the estate, with new trees, lighting and facilities, as well as a new community centre, café and two commercial units.

Architects: Karakusevic Carson Architects, Henley Halebrown Architects, Stephen Taylor Architects, Townshend Landscape Architects

Construction: Mullaley

In 2018, we demolished redundant buildings in Olympus Square. In time we will replace these buildings with new homes as part of the regeneration plans.

Since the approval of the plans, the cost of building has risen due to the increasing price of labour and materials, caused by factors such as:

• Brexit
• COVID-19
• rising energy costs

There have also been some significant changes introduced to building safety regulations. These include enhanced fire safety requirements. We will work on updating the designs to ensure they meet the new regulations without compromising design quality.

Our contractors, Mullaley has begun to conduct enabling works and erect a new temporary community centre. We have also begun work on some parts of Olympus Green.