Hackney is aiming to deliver 1,000 new homes for social rent by 2026, despite facing significant challenges including rising construction costs and building safety regulations.

The Hackney Council's Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission met on Wednesday to discuss the progress of the council's target, set in 2022, to build 1,000 new homes for social rent by 2026. While the council acknowledges that it is unlikely the homes will all be built by the target date, they are confident that 956 homes will be in delivery by May 2026.

Councillor Guy Nicholson, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing Management & Regeneration, acknowledged the challenges but praised the Housing Regeneration team for their work. What one would just like to place on record is the extraordinary work that the Housing Regeneration team have been delivering, he said, citing pandemics, rising prices, supply chain issues and market crashes as obstacles overcome.

"A resident waters plants in a community garden in front of council housing in Hackney."

Suzanne Johnson, Director Regeneration Economy and Housing Delivery, highlighted the broader context of the housing crisis. She noted that there are 8,500 households on Hackney's council housing waiting list and 3,457 households in temporary accommodation. She also stated that the council has secured over £90 million of grant funding from the GLA and the government.

Rachel Bagenal, Assistant Director Housing Delivery & Regeneration, outlined some of the delivery successes, including the completion of Tower Court, Chowdhury Walk and Tori Ann Walk. She also noted that the council is currently on site with around 600 homes across a number of schemes. She also presented a sobering bar chart released by the GLA last year, showing a significant drop in affordable housing starts on site in London, highlighting the challenges faced by the wider sector.

"Architectural rendering of a new council housing development in Hackney."

Future plans include a focus on identifying sites for new homes across the borough through an asset review process. Bagenal stated that the big challenge is land supply and the availability of sites to build on.

The Living in Hackney Work Programme Shortlist 2025/26 includes a review of the New Council Homes Programme.