Affordable workspace
We want to ensure a fair recovery for all after the pandemic and this includes ensuring that genuinely affordable workspace is available to the start-ups, small businesses and local enterprises that are essential to Hackney’s economy.
That’s why we’re connecting affordable workspace providers with local businesses through our approved workspace providers list, putting in place planning rules to secure genuinely affordable workspace in new developments, and using our own buildings to create affordable workspace.
We are using our planning powers so that, where developers put forward plans for new workspace, safeguards are in place so that as much of this as possible is affordable to local businesses.
It means we’ll use our own assets to create genuinely affordable workspace where the market can’t and directly support small businesses to link them up with the spaces that are available.
We’re determined to ensure we build a local economy that helps people into good, sustainable jobs, gets small businesses back on their feet and ensures the growth of our town centres, based on the ambitions of our residents.
Where we think the economy isn’t working for local people, we’ll intervene ourselves and demonstrate how it could be done better.
Approved providers list
The workspace provider list is assessed and compiled by the Council and is available to developers to ensure they partner with a recognised provider as they design and plan new workspace in the borough. The list is also used by the Council when looking for potential occupiers for Council buildings that can be used as workspace.
Businesses looking for affordable office or desk space can contact any of the providers listed below to enquire about availability and prices.
All providers listed have been assessed and approved using the following criteria:
- delivery of affordable workspace at below market rates
- provision of flexible tenancy agreements
- prioritisation of space for local businesses
- delivery of business support for tenants
- community engagement
- skills and employment opportunities for Hackney residents
- understanding of Hackney’s economy and need for affordable workspace in the borough
- commitment to buying goods and services locally
Find out more about the approved providers list.
Planning
Info for small businesses
For assistance in locating commercial premises in Hackney please use the link to the enquiry form below.
Your requirements will be stored and shared with local property developers, commercial estate agents and our commercial property department.
Information for developers
It is a policy requirement for major commercial and mixed use developments in designated economic areas across Hackney to provide affordable workspace. While the policy is designed to support the local economy first and foremost, affordable workspace can also add value to the developments themselves.
The value of workspace providers and affordable workspace manifests itself in many ways, from generating economic growth, to place-making, adding cultural value and to addressing disadvantage through supporting social enterprises.
The approved provider list helps developers identify providers who are well qualified providers to provide the highest level of value from the new affordable workspace.