Stoke Newington Town Hall is set to undergo significant architectural and design work, with a new contract approved by the Hackney Procurement Board. The board has awarded a contract worth £1,420,185.39 (exclusive of VAT) to Supplier A for essential architectural and design services at the Grade II listed building.
The contract will see a Principal Consultant appointed to manage multi-disciplinary services, including architectural, structural, and mechanical/electrical/public health consultancy, for six capital delivery projects across the complex. These projects encompass essential repairs to the roofing and drainage systems, as well as upgrades to heating, hot water, and electrical systems. The complex itself comprises the Council Chamber & Municipal Offices, the Grand Assembly Hall, the Public and Reference Libraries, ancillary spaces on the first floor, a Gallery, and a subterranean network including the Civil Defence Building, a secure Bunker, and a Data Centre.
The Stoke Newington Town Hall, a Grade II listed building, has been on the Historic England Heritage at Risk
register since November 2024 due to severe water ingress and infrastructure failures. The report highlights that delaying essential repairs could expose the building to further degradation, particularly during winter weather, and jeopardize time-sensitive decarbonisation grants for an Air Source Heat Pump plant room. The proposed professional design and engineering appointment will support coordinated interventions to slow, arrest and prevent further degradation, thereby reducing future repair complexity, avoiding escalation of heritage risk, and preserving the long-term operational and civic value of the asset.
The decision to award the contract directly to the incumbent supplier was made to ensure technical continuity and avoid delays, as the supplier already possesses in-depth knowledge of the building. This is particularly crucial given the risk of 'latent heritage fabric damage', which could occur from structural modifications like penetrating the 3-meter-thick basement slab or altering historic roof alignments. The mitigation strategy involves appointing 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 oversight to correct physical contractor errors and shield the historic building fabric from irreversible impact.
A key social value benefit of this contract is the commitment to creating a dedicated M&E engineering or Quantity Surveying apprenticeship for a Hackney resident. Beyond this single apprenticeship, the supplier is committed to educational engagement and professional mentoring, including a one-day soft skills training, a one-day workshop, and a one-day workplace visit for local educational institutions. They will also provide employability advice and soft skills training to local residents. Furthermore, the supplier will support the local economy by utilizing co-working spaces within Hackney and will act in a voluntary capacity to guide local charities and community organizations through building project procedures, with a committed financial or material contribution of at least £500 to individual charitable groups.
The contract is funded from the capital programme and is valued at £1,420,185.39 (exclusive of VAT). The professional fee percentage of 11.06% is within the framework's cap. The design brief emphasizes the integration of whole-life costing (WLC), which contractually obligates the architectural team to embed WLC parameters directly into their technical choices and options appraisals. This means the team must systematically balance immediate capital costs against long-term operational expenditure, targeting optimal building envelope insulation, durability of heritage-approved roofing materials, and maximum efficiency from the interlinked Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) plant room build. Environmental and supply chain impacts will also be considered through WLC, requiring the selection of appropriate materials and design solutions that protect the historic fabric, reduce avoidable waste, improve operational efficiency, and inform more sustainable construction delivery.
Risks such as potential asbestos and business continuity interruption have been identified, with mitigation strategies in place. Contract management will involve regular site visits, design team meetings, and contractor progress meetings, with Key Performance Indicators focused on project completion, programme adherence, budget control, risk assessment, and quality of works.
Further details of the Hackney Procurement Board's decisions can be found in the Decisions Tuesday 08-Sep-2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board document, with supporting information available in the Public reports pack Tuesday 08-Sep-2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board. The Agenda frontsheet Tuesday 08-Sep-2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board also provides relevant context.