Stoke Newington Town Hall is set to undergo significant repairs and upgrades after Hackney Council's Procurement Board approved a £1.4 million contract for architectural and design services.

The contract, valued at £1,420,185.39 (exclusive of VAT), has been awarded to a supplier who will manage multi-disciplinary consultancy services for six capital delivery projects across the historic building.

The Grade II listed town hall, which dates back to the late Victorian and early twentieth centuries, has been on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register since November 2024. This designation stems from severe and active water ingress that has compromised the building's structural integrity and multiple infrastructure failures. Specifically, there has been a complete failure of multiple roofing systems and an inadequate rainwater drainage strategy, which together have allowed moisture to penetrate the building fabric and accelerate internal decay. Furthermore, the estate lacks operational heating, hot water, and ventilation systems, while the existing electrical infrastructure has passed the end of its viable lifecycle.

The approved works will address these essential repairs, including roofing and drainage, as well as the upgrade of heating, hot water, and electrical systems.

The decision to award a direct contract to the incumbent supplier was made to ensure technical continuity and avoid delays. This supplier already possesses detailed knowledge of the building and has been involved in ongoing surveys, which is crucial given the site's complexity and heritage status. Delaying these works could lead to further degradation, particularly during winter weather, and jeopardise time-sensitive decarbonisation grants for an Air Source Heat Pump plant room.

The contract is funded from the capital programme, with a professional fee percentage of 11.06%, which is within the framework's cap. The design brief mandates the integration of whole-life costing, focusing on insulation, durable roofing materials, and efficient plant room operations. While revenue savings are anticipated, the primary focus is the protection of the building complex from further degradation and the preservation of its asset value. Cashable savings are expected to arise from reduced energy consumption following the installation of new air source heat pumps and improved roof insulation, which will reduce reliance on less efficient legacy heating arrangements and improve the building's thermal performance. However, the exact amount of these savings is not yet quantified, with the report noting that at this stage the level of direct cashable saving is not expected to be material and will be confirmed through the detailed design, energy modelling and operational cost assessments.

Social value benefits were a key consideration. Beyond a dedicated M&E engineering or Quantity Surveying apprenticeship for a Hackney resident, the supplier is committed to a range of educational and skills development initiatives. These include a one-day soft skills training session, a one-day workshop, and a one-day workplace visit for learners to understand the project lifecycle. They will also conduct a one-day employability advice and soft skills training for local residents. The supplier intends to support apprenticeships for local students starting from age 16, with a new apprentice position scheduled to commence each academic year. Apprenticeships will also be prioritised across various building trades during the contractor-led phases of the project. Furthermore, the supplier will voluntarily guide local charities and community organisations through building project procedures and provide a financial or material contribution of at least £500 to individual charitable groups.

The supplier also has a significant local presence, with 28% of its professional team residing within ten miles of the site, and will support the local economy through co-working spaces. The contract also includes provisions for worker welfare, ensuring the London Living Wage is paid, and adherence to the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Risks such as potential asbestos and contamination, business continuity interruption, and latent heritage fabric damage have been identified. The latent heritage fabric damage risks include potential irreversible damage to the Grade II listed asset caused by structural modifications, such as penetrating the 3-meter-thick basement slab or altering historic roof alignments. Mitigation strategies include the appointment of the framework incumbent team, who authored the baseline condition surveys and possess an intimate understanding of the site's structural boundaries and conservation rules. They are contractually bound to provide active, client-side technical advisory oversight to correct physical contractor errors and shield the historic building fabric from irreversible impact during deep slab penetrations. Other mitigation strategies include task-specific risk assessments and the embedding of a Principal Designer.

Topics related to the Legal Disrepair Contractor were deferred to a future Hackney Procurement Board meeting. See Decisions Tuesday 08-Sep-2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board.