Waltham Forest Council has approved a £3.58 million upgrade for the historic Hatherley Mews, aiming to transform the site into a vibrant hub for creative, cultural, and commercial activities.
The decision, made at an Executive Decision meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, greenlit the award of a contract to Woodland Interiors Contracting Limited for refurbishment works at the Hoe Street site. The contract sum is not to exceed £1,573,643.23.
This regeneration project is part of a wider strategy to enhance the borough's cultural offering, support local businesses, and boost the evening economy. The council is hoping to attract creative, studio, workshop, light industrial, food and beverage, and cultural occupiers
to Hatherley Mews. The aim is to support local creative enterprises, foster a thriving business environment, and provide spaces for the borough's creative and cultural sector, as well as leisure and hospitality businesses. The development will also seek to provide spaces to businesses complementing the theatre's offer, with the aim of enhancing the local nighttime offer and economy in Walthamstow town centre.
Enabling works, infrastructure upgrades, and planning consents have already been completed. The refurbishment includes essential structural, compliance and regulatory works.
The condition of the vacant units prior to refurbishment is implied to be substandard, as the report mentions that Change of use Planning Permission has been secured from residential to commercial for some of the units, with parallel process of lease terminations and vacant possession. This addressed longstanding issues of substandard residential accommodation delivered under permitted development by the site's previous owners.
The current phase of the project focuses on refurbishing these vacant units.
The project has secured £1.96 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, supplementing allocated capital investment funding. The total approved budget for the scheme stands at £3.585 million.
Environmental improvements are also part of the upgrade. Beyond the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to enhance sustainability and reduce operational carbon emissions, the capital works will deliver environmental improvements to the area, including a range of environmental performance targets covering key elements such as energy, water, recyclable materials to improve the sustainability and whole-life cost of the buildings as applicable.
Additionally, the contractor has been asked to consider how the construction works will contribute to reducing, reusing, and recycling waste and encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport and/or electric vehicles.
The public realm will be improved with cobblestone renewal, new CCTV, and enhanced lighting to improve safety and address anti-social behaviour. These improvements to the public realm will contribute to improved accessibility and surveillance which will make businesses and residents feel safer and help to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour.
The regeneration also aims to increase footfall to the area and stimulate additional growth in Walthamstow's local economy.
The completed development is forecast to generate rental income, contributing to the Regeneration Business Plan and the 15-minute cultural neighbourhood initiative.
The decision to award the contract is subject to a call-in period, expiring on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Further details can be found in the Public reports pack.
Councillor Eva Tabbasam, Deputy Leader (Housing and Regeneration), was consulted on the decision, which was made by the Director of Capital Strategy, Delivery & Estates. The Decisions document outlines the outcome of the meeting.
