Waltham Forest Council has awarded a £1.57 million contract for the refurbishment of Hatherley Mews, a historic site on Hoe Street, Walthamstow. The decision, made at an Executive Decision meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, will see Woodland Interiors Contracting Limited undertake the works.
Hatherley Mews, originally built in the 1800s as stables and repair workshops for London's trams, is a Council-owned historic site. Its refurbishment is considered important for the area's regeneration as part of a strategy to enhance the cultural offer, support local businesses, and boost the evening economy. The regeneration aims to create a new cultural destination for Walthamstow, supporting local creative enterprises and providing a space for the borough's creative and cultural sector, as well as leisure and hospitality businesses. The project also addresses longstanding issues of substandard residential accommodation previously delivered under permitted development.
The refurbishment is part of a wider strategy to regenerate the area for creative, cultural, and commercial uses, aiming to boost the local economy and cultural offerings. The vision for Hatherley Mews is to redevelop it into a new cultural destination for Walthamstow, supporting local creative enterprises within a thriving business environment. It aims to provide a space for the borough's creative and cultural sector, as well as leisure and hospitality businesses. The development will also seek to provide spaces for businesses that complement the theatre's offer, with the goal of enhancing the local nighttime offer and economy in Walthamstow town centre. The completed scheme is specifically targeted towards creative, studio, workshop, light industrial, food and beverage, and cultural occupiers.
Enabling works, infrastructure upgrades, and planning consents have already been completed. These include essential firestopping works, a comprehensive upgrade of statutory utility infrastructure (particularly the full upgrade of the Victorian watermain and drainage system, addressing localized flooding issues), increased UKPN capacity coordinated and connected to substations, new fibre optic broadband installation (which will also support CCTV upgrades), and the complete renewal and reinstatement of the historic cobblestone public realm. This phase of the project focuses on bringing vacant units back into use.
The project has secured £1.96 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, in addition to allocated capital investment funding, bringing the total approved budget for the scheme to £3.585 million. The refurbishment will include essential structural and compliance works. The completed development is forecast to generate rental income, contributing to cost recovery over time. The anticipated payback period has been assessed based on projected income streams, with sensitivity testing undertaken to reflect potential variations, including void periods and tenant incentives.
Environmental improvements are also planned. Beyond the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to enhance sustainability, the capital works will deliver a range of environmental performance targets covering key elements such as energy, water, and recyclable materials to improve the sustainability and whole-life cost of the buildings. The contractor has also been asked to consider how the construction works will contribute to reducing, reusing, and recycling waste and encourage walking, cycling, and the use of public transport and/or electric vehicles.
The refurbishment aims to enhance the cultural offer, support local businesses, and boost the evening economy. The creation of new businesses and increased footfall is intended to stimulate additional growth in Walthamstow's local economy.
Councillor Eva Tabbasam, Deputy Leader (Housing and Regeneration), consulted on the decision, which was made by the Director of Capital Strategy, Delivery & Estates. The decision is subject to a call-in period, expiring on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Further details can be found in the Public reports pack.
Alternative options considered included doing nothing, which would leave units vacant and prevent income generation, and retendering, which was not recommended as a compliant bid had already been received. The Agenda frontsheet and Decisions documents provide further information on the meeting.
