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Council news
Fairer, safer and more sustainable - Hackney Central plan approved
24th May 2023
A new vision informed by the views of thousands of local people will put cultural activities, wellbeing, jobs and climate initiatives at the heart of Hackney Central’s future after being approved by the Council.The Hackney Central Town Centre Strategy sets out a shared ten-year plan for a growing town centre expected to accommodate 1,000 new homes and 3,000 new jobs in the years ahead and see more than £19 million in Levelling Up Fund investment in public spaces and community facilities.The strategy creates a vision to “ensure this change makes the area fairer, safer and more sustainable, where everyone can expect a good quality of life, where we work together for the benefit of each other”.That ambition has been shaped by extensive engagement with residents and businesses in Hackney Central to ensure the local community is the first to benefit from this change and the area's unique character is protected. This included the Hackney Central Conversation, which saw 2,000 people share their priorities for the future of the area in 2019, more than 1,000 local people helping create the strategy, and the Hackney Central Community Panel.These ambitions will be kickstarted by £19 million in Levelling Up funding (LUF) - investment confirmed earlier this year and agreed by the Council in April, which includes plans to create a greener Hackney Central in a currently traffic dominated town centre, with some of the borough’s worst air quality and three of the borough’s most dangerous junctions. This funding will be invested in projects to improve streets and public spaces, reduce traffic and enhance heritage assets, including exploring plans to reduce traffic at Amhurst Road; redesign the dangerous Pembury Circus junction; create better public spaces at Hackney Town Hall Square and Bohemia Place, and provide a modern library facility and digital hub at Hackney Central library.The LUF projects sit alongside a wide range of other initiatives the Council is bringing forward in Hackney Central coordinated by the Town Centre Strategy; from developing Council owned land to working with partners to improve public transport accessibility to the town centre. Read more below. Any changes in Hackney Central will be developed and brought forward in partnership with the community, including the residents and businesses who will be most affected by these plans. The Council will ensure those local people who helped co-create the vision for Hackney Central will continue to drive its progress. As specific projects are developed, you can stay informed on how to get involved by signing up to the newsletter below.Find out moreWhat’s happening in Hackney CentralLevelling-up Hackney CentralSign up to the newsletter and get involved in the changes
Ukraine art on display as Hackney celebrates Ukrainian talent
23rd May 2023
A short season of events and exhibitions will showcase the work of Ukrainian artists, authors and musicians in Hackney, throughout June 2023. In response to the war in Ukraine, Hackney has welcomed many Ukrainians to the borough, through the Council’s Homes for Ukraine initiative.The exhibition at the heart of the season is called Fragile Brutalism and explores the notion of home, by Ukrainian artists, Dasha Podoltseva and Elena Orap. The exhibition forms part of the London Festival of Architecture, a month-long celebration of architecture which aims to open up discussions around city design and promote new talent. The season will include a storytelling and craft workshop for families hosted by Ukrainian speaking library staff at Shoreditch Library.Ukraine season programme:Fragile Brutalism exhibition - Three artworks explore the notion of home, at De Beauvior Estate, on a billboard at Kingsland Road (junction with Enfield Road), and at 160 Old Street, from 12-30 June. Story-telling for children and poster-making - Children aged 5+ and their families are invited to take part in a celebration of Ukranian stories and a poster-making workshop exploring what ‘home’ means, at Shoreditch Library on 6 June, 4-5.30pm.(Un)Common trajectories: Post-war modernist housing in Ukraine and the UK - A discussion exploring the shared and divergent experiences of modernist social housing in the UK and Ukraine, including its history, present and possible future on 13 June, 6-9pm.Notions of home and loss in times of war and peace - An informal, drop-in community event with Ukrainian music and food to reflect on what is happening in Ukraine, and explore what ‘home’ means, how it feels to be confronted with the reality or threat of its loss, and what we share in terms of our ideas of home.As part of Refugee Week (19-25 June) Hackney Museum will also host a series of free school sessions for Hackney primary schools, exploring the stories of people who have been forced to leave their home and seek safety.Notes to editorsFor more information on all Ukraine season events go to: www.lovehackney.uk/ukraine-seasonMore information on the Fragile Brutalism events, part of the London Festival of Architecture, can be found here (13 June) and here (15 June). The work focuses on the importance and the fragility of home. The artists reflect on Ukrainian modernist prefabricated buildings known as "panelki", whose destruction has become a powerful symbol of the brutality endured by civilians during the Russian-Ukrainian war. The exhibition aims to encourage reflection on what we share across borders, when it comes to notions of home and the threat of its loss.More information on Refugee week can be found here. Hackney Museum will be marking the week with a series of free school sessions for Hackney primary schools, in which the personal stories of those forced to leave their home and seek safety will allow pupils to consider what they can do to make newcomers feel welcome.The Ukraine season project is supported by Hackney Council, School of Architecture and Cities (University of Westminster), Stephen Taylor Architects, MAPP, Old Street Partnership Ltd and Humdingers Catering.