55 Morning Lane
This page will keep you updated about the Tesco site at 55 Morning Lane and how you can get involved in shaping the plans for a new development.
Overview
55 Morning Lane is an important site in Hackney Central. It’s currently home to a Tesco supermarket and its car park.
We bought the site when Tesco put it up for sale in 2017 to make sure we could influence what would be built in this location. Hackney’s Local Plan (PDF 27mb) allocates the site for mixed-use residential and commercial development including space for a new supermarket.
We are committed to involving the Hackney Central community in the plans for the site, which could deliver new homes, workspaces, better public spaces and a supermarket, all shaped by the ideas of local residents, businesses and organisations.
We’ve appointed north London architects Levitt Bernstein to lead a design team that will work with the local community to create initial proposals for the site. This is the first stage of the site design process, which involves:
- setting goals
- coming up with ideas
- exploring what can be built
There will be a series of open community meetings, workshops and walkabouts with the design team in December, January and February to help inform and shape these initial proposals. For more information, see Get involved.
What’s happening now
Thousands of people have shared their views on the site and Hackney Central over the past 5 years through events, surveys and online engagement. Priorities for many residents and visitors include:
- access to affordable food
- more affordable homes and workspaces
- a greener, safer and thriving town centre
We’ve also commissioned Climate Labs, a community engagement specialist, to work on the 55 Morning Lane Project. They will work with the design team to organise workshops where local residents, businesses, and organisations can help shape the initial proposals for the site. These workshops will make sure the plans reflect the community’s aspirations for the area
The plans won’t be detailed designs, but will include how buildings, streets and public spaces could be arranged and used.
Get involved
Attend the first open meeting on Saturday 7 December. It will include an:
- introduction to the site and the current timeline
- introduction to architects Levitt Bernstein
- overview of things that need to be considered when designing any plans for the site
There will also be a chance to discuss future meetings and topics they could cover for January and February. Through this process, the design team will develop up to 3 design options for the site.
To reserve your space at the upcoming meeting, visit eventbrite.
Challenges we face
This is an opportunity to shape the future of Hackney Central. However, there are challenges that have to be taken into account when considering what can be built.
Physical constraints and considerations include:
- a railway line to the north
- homes and businesses bordering the site on Mare Street, Link Street, and Morning Lane
- Eurostar tunnels underneath
- the nearby Mare Street Conservation Area
In addition, we purchased the site in 2017 for £55 million. Financial challenges faced by councils including Hackney mean we’re required to recoup as much as possible from the site and its future development.