Hackney Council has published the timetable for its new Local Plan, a crucial document that will guide development across the borough for the next 10 to 15 years. The plan, approved by the Cabinet on Monday, June 29, 2026, will address key strategic topics including housing, employment, transport, climate change, and community well-being.
The decision to publish the timetable marks the formal commencement of the process to develop the new Local Plan. This initiative is part of new national planning reforms aimed at streamlining the local plan production process, with a target of completion within 30 months. These reforms, brought into force in March 2026, incorporate three 'gateway checks' to identify inconsistencies with national policy or gaps in the evidence base early on, aiming to reduce delays at the examination stage. Local plans are now required to avoid repetition or inconsistency with national policy to shorten their length and ensure a level playing field for applicants nationwide.
The Local Plan will be developed through a series of consultations, with an initial scoping consultation planned for September 2026. This consultation is described as an opportunity to engage with communities through an open process to understand their aspirations for the Local Plan. To ensure resident and stakeholder input is genuinely considered, the council will utilize its existing planning consultation database and collaborate with the consultation and engagement team to target hard-to-reach groups, maximizing involvement. The intention is that this scoping consultation will ask open-ended questions to truly understand what residents and stakeholders would like the Council to achieve.
Key strategic topics to be addressed include housing, with the Woodberry Down regeneration scheme, specifically Phases 4 and 5, set to contribute over 1,300 new homes. Of these, 43% will be affordable. Phase 4 alone will deliver 511 new homes, with 222 (43%) designated as affordable, comprising 90 homes for Social Rent and 132 Shared Ownership homes.
The plan will also focus on employment, with the Woodberry Down regeneration scheme expected to generate employment and skills opportunities during and after construction. Transport strategies are being considered to improve connectivity and reduce congestion, with the Shoreditch Public Realm and Greening Framework, funded by Section 106 contributions, prioritizing better connectivity, movement, and wayfinding to support active travel.
Furthermore, the new Local Plan will address the impact of climate change. Section 106 funding of £1.9 million has been approved for various Net Zero and public realm projects, including expanding residential solar power across council homes.
The timetable outlines key milestones, including public consultations on proposed content and evidence, submission for assessment by a planning inspector, and ultimately, adoption of the plan in Spring 2029.
Minor amendments to the Local Plan Timetable have been delegated to the Assistant Director of Planning and Building Control. Any significant changes to the timetable will continue to require Cabinet approval, as outlined in the Decisions Monday 29 June 2026 Cabinet document.
