Waltham Forest Council has awarded a significant contract to Woodland Interiors Contracting Limited for the refurbishment of Hatherley Mews, a historic site in Walthamstow. The decision, made at an Executive Decision meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, aims to regenerate the area for creative, cultural, and commercial uses, bolstering the local economy and evening vibrancy.
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. This includes providing space for the Borough's creative and cultural sector, as well as leisure and hospitality businesses. The development will also aim 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. Specifically, the completed scheme is targeted towards creative, studio, workshop, light industrial, food and beverage, and cultural occupiers.
The contract, valued at up to £1,573,643.23, is part of a broader strategy to enhance Walthamstow's cultural offering and support local businesses. Hatherley Mews, located on Hoe Street, will see its vacant units refurbished to bring them back into active use. This regeneration is expected to contribute to the Regeneration Business Plan and the 15-minute cultural neighbourhood initiative.
The project has secured £1.96 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, supplementing allocated capital investment. The total approved budget for the scheme stands at £3.585 million. The refurbishment will include essential structural and compliance works, with the completed development forecast to generate rental income.
Beyond the structural improvements, the project incorporates environmental enhancements such as the installation of solar photovoltaic panels to support landlord energy use and meet agreed sustainability targets. The refurbishment is expected to result in lower running costs and carbon emissions in operation once the works are complete. The public realm will also be upgraded with cobblestone renewal, new CCTV, and improved lighting, intended to enhance safety and address anti-social behaviour. Enabling works and infrastructure upgrades, including a comprehensive upgrade of statutory utility infrastructure, particularly the Victorian watermain and drainage system, and increased UKPN capacity, have already been completed. New fibre optic broadband installation has also been finished, which will support CCTV upgrades. Furthermore, the refurbishment will make ground floor units fully accessible, positively impacting individuals with disabilities.
This decision follows a competitive procurement process that received 14 tender submissions. Two submissions were deemed non-compliant due to the absence of responses to social value requirements. Interviews were undertaken with the highest-ranking tenderers to further assess their proposals, including scrutiny of construction methodologies and their approach to managing a sensitive, publicly active site. This process provided confidence in the selected contractor's ability to successfully deliver the scheme. However, the specific criteria or metrics used for evaluation are not detailed, nor is the exact reasoning for selecting Woodland Interiors Contracting Limited beyond general confidence in their ability.
The contract award is subject to a call-in period, concluding on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The Director of Capital Strategy, Delivery & Estates, in consultation with Councillor Eva Tabbasam, Deputy Leader (Housing and Regeneration), made the final decision. Further details on the decision can be found in the Public reports pack and the Decisions document.
