Stoke Newington Town Hall is set to receive a significant boost for its heritage repairs, with a contract for architectural and design services worth over £1.4 million approved by the Hackney Procurement Board.

The board confirmed the award of a contract to Supplier A for £1,420,185.39 (exclusive of VAT) to oversee essential capital delivery projects at the Grade II listed building. This decision aims to address severe water ingress and infrastructure failures that have led to the town hall being placed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register.

Specifically, the town hall is affected by the complete failure of multiple roofing systems and an inadequate rainwater drainage strategy which 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 appointed consultant will manage multi-disciplinary services, including architectural and structural work, as well as mechanical, electrical, and public health systems. Key repairs will focus on the building's roofing and drainage, alongside upgrades to heating, hot water, and electrical systems.

The contract was awarded via a direct route to the incumbent supplier to ensure technical continuity and avoid significant delays. The supplier already possesses in-depth knowledge of the complex, which dates back to the late Victorian and early twentieth centuries.

Delaying these vital works could exacerbate the building's degradation, particularly during winter weather, and jeopardise time-sensitive decarbonisation grants for an Air Source Heat Pump plant room. The design brief mandates the integration of whole-life costing, with a focus on insulation, durable roofing materials, and efficient plant room operations.

Social value benefits are a key component of the contract, with the supplier committed to educational engagement, local skills development, and apprenticeships, including a dedicated M&E engineering or Quantity Surveying apprenticeship for a Hackney resident. Beyond the apprenticeship, the supplier is committed to a one-day soft skills training, a one-day workshop and host a one-day workplace visit designed to demonstrate the critical balance between creative design and the rigorous protocols of the industry. They will also provide one day of employability advice and soft skills training to local residents. The supplier also has a significant local presence, with 28% of its professional team residing within ten miles of the site.

Risks such as potential asbestos, contamination, business continuity interruption, and latent heritage fabric damage have been identified, with mitigation strategies including task-specific risk assessments and the embedding of a Principal Designer.

Details of the contract award can be found in the Decisions Tuesday 08-Sep-2026 Hackney Procurement Board document.