Hackney Council has approved the disposal of several properties on London Lane as part of a capital update and property disposal and acquisition plan, aiming to generate funds for invest to save and transformational revenue spend
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The decision, made during a Licensing Sub Committee C meeting on 12 August 2025, authorises the disposal of properties at 18 London Lane, 20 London Lane, and 13a Englefield Road. The council also approved the disposal of part of the Public Library Record Centre and Archives Store, located at Roseberry Place and Beechwood Road, also known as 14 Dalston Lane, and land at Pearson Street.
The properties at 18-20 London Lane and 14 Dalston Lane will be offered to the market for sale or on the basis of a standard commercial lease. It is anticipated that the long leaseholder of the land at Pearson Street may seek to purchase the freehold as a special purchaser.
The council delegated authority to the Group Director of Finance to agree on commercial terms for the transactions, and to the Director of Legal, Democratic and Electoral Services to finalise the necessary documentation.
The report noted that the disposals of 18-20 London Lane, 14 Dalston Lane, and land at Pearson Street would allow the council to utilise capital receipts for investment and transformational revenue spend. The council considered retaining the freehold of the Land at Pearson Street, but rejected this option because a transaction of this type would require the Council to pay a reverse premium capital sum at a time when it is seeking capital receipts.
These specific properties were chosen for disposal because retaining them in the Commercial portfolio no longer represents the best use. According to the report, these properties were also selected because they can be disposed of relatively quickly, without the need for relocations or wide consultation, and where there is either no immediate loss of commercial income, or a likelihood of a void in approximately 12 months time.
Alternative options considered and rejected by the council included:
- No action.
- Marketing only on a standard commercial lease basis for 18-20 London Lane and 14 Dalston Lane.
- Marketing only for sale for 18-20 London Lane and 14 Dalston Lane.
- Pursuing other corporate objectives for 18-20 London Lane and 14 Dalston Lane.
- Retaining the freehold of the Land at Pearson Street and considering attempting to agree to a surrender of the long leasehold interest in order to obtain control of the land.
The report indicates that the properties chosen for disposal were selected partly because they did not require wide consultation, unlike some VCS (Voluntary and Community Sector) assets. This suggests that minimal community consultation was undertaken prior to the decision.
The meeting, which was held remotely and live-streamed, also addressed other licensing matters. The agenda frontsheet and public reports pack from the 12 August 2025 Licensing Sub Committee C meeting are available online. Agenda frontsheet Public reports pack