Levelling Up Fund for Hackney

We want to address traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, improve walking and cycling routes and create more green space, including:

• redesigning Pembury Circus junction to improve safety, a better cycling and walking experience and cycle hire facilities; and reducing through-traffic from Amhurst Road between Pembury Circus and Mare Street. This will deliver on changes previously proposed as part of Transport for London’s Liveable Neighbourhoods Programme – see pages 38 to 42 of our Emergency Transport Plan (PDF 6mb)
• creating cleaner, greener and more accessible public spaces along Amhurst Road, with new pocket parks, greenery and seating
• creating a new green space at Marvin Street, replacing car parking spaces with interventions such as planting and greenery, informal play equipment, and a rain garden

We want to invest in Hackney Central’s civic heart by enhancing heritage assets in the town centre and improving cultural and library services to increase access to educational, community and digital facilities, including:

• redesigning and improving Hackney Town Hall Square, creating a public space representative of Hackney Central’s communities and an improved setting for civic and community events. This could include giving people priority over cars at Reading Lane and Wilton Way and providing new paving, seating, planting and lighting
• refurbishing and investing in Hackney Central library, creating a modern library facility and digital hub to deliver a space that works better for the local community. Improvements will be identified through extensive engagement with residents, staff and stakeholders and could include; installing more flexible and inclusive equipment and digital facilities; improving children and young people’s zones and introducing spaces for community events, exhibitions and displays, collaborative learning spaces, more space for quiet study and meetings

We want to support markets, bring empty spaces and shops back into use, and increase town centre footfall to support businesses and improve community safety, including:

• improving public space at Bohemia Place to create a safer, more welcome environment and support businesses. Possible changes that we will look to discuss with businesses and the community include improved new and improved lighting, surfacing, cycle storage, planting and greenery, seating and signage.
• investing in vacant buildings and sites in the town centres to create new town centre uses and facilities and vibrant streets and spaces the community can benefit from