Hackney reveals architects’ designs for fresh wave of infill council housing

The projects have been drawn up by Al-Jawad Pike, Balaam Murphy, NOOMA Studio, Archio and Citizens Design Bureau, which, along with Sergison Bates, were chosen by the local authority to build 400 new homes on the plots a year ago.

The five projects moving forward include a new five-storey block containing 19 social rent flats at Morris Blitz Court by Archio and nine three-bed houses by Citizens Design Bureau aiming for Passivhaus standard at Nye Bevan Estate garages.

Al-Jawad Pike – shortlisted for the 2024 Stirling Prize for its Chowdhury Walk council housing for the same client – is behind 18 homes for social rent in a five-floor building, which will replace Blackwell Close garages.

Meanwhile, Balaam Murphy has drawn up plans for a new deck-access block opposite the Grade II-listed Haggerston School; and NOOMA Studio has designed a high-density development of 28 social rent family homes at Fellows Court garages.

All five sites will be submitted for planning shortly and are 100 per cent council homes for social rent. The new terraced houses at Nye Bevan Estate garages by Citizens Design Bureau are intended to be replicable at other small sites in the borough.

Caroline Woodley, mayor of Hackney, said: ‘Despite the challenges caused by Brexit, the cost-of-living crisis and a historical lack of government funding for social housing, we’re committed to building the next generation of much-needed council homes.

‘I’m glad to see that these proposals for five sites are about to be submitted to planning, which, if approved, will provide nearly 100 council homes, all for social rent.

‘We have long been recognised for our innovative approach to building design, having recently won the RIBA Neave Brown Award 2024 for our brand new homes on Chowdhury Walk, designed by one of our architect teams, Al-Jawad Pike.

‘These new proposals for much-needed council homes demonstrate we are continuing to put the community’s voice, design excellence and sustainability at their heart.’

The borough’s search for the architects began in May 2023 and the project forms part of its wider plan to start construction of 1,000 new council homes for social rent by 2026.

The five architecture practices were chosen in March 2024 to design homes for 14 under-used plots in the north-east London borough on land currently occupied by car parking, garages and redundant buildings.

The winning design team included architects NOOMA Studio and Balaam Murphy, and landscape designers LDA, Periscope and Farrer Huxley. XCO2 Energy was also appointed as the council’s environmental engineer and HTA Design as planning consultant.

Two of the design contracts were ring-fenced for bids from Hackney-based and diverse micro-businesses to ‘ensure that the developments are locally focused, fair and sustainable’.

To kick-start the latest work, the local authority set up individual resident steering groups, a group of dedicated residents to ‘help shape the projects, involve the wider community and inform the design development’. These steering group members have been compensated for their meeting time at London Living Wage levels.

Once approved, the council expects construction work to begin next year.

Between May 2018 and May 2022 the council started, completed or received planning permission for 1,984 new homes.

Hackney is also one of three London areas taking part in a three-year GLA pilot scheme to receive part-time design support from the GLA’s cohort of 42 Design Advocates, along with Northolt and London Riverside.

The GLA said Design Advocates will ‘provide independent expertise and support to local councils to help them overcome challenges in the built environment, develop visions across areas, promote quality and inclusion and unlock long-term benefits for diverse communities’. A budget of £70,000 a year has been allocated for the pilot scheme.

Since 2011, Hackney Council has worked with several prominent architecture firms, including Karakusevic Carson Architects, Henley Halebrown, Al-Jawad Pike and Adam Khan Architects.

Project summaries 

Morris Blitz Court by Archio

Morris Blitz Court

• New five-storey block containing 19 social rent flats, with a mixture of 1- 2- and 3-bed units
• ‘Repairing the street’ along Farleigh Road and creating a new shared courtyard for new and existing residents
• New stairs, slide and climbing frame to link the existing podium structure with the courtyard
• Public realm improvements, including new play areas, wildflower meadows and additional tree planting
• Low-energy design targeting Passivhaus Classic certification.

Project team:

• Architect: Archio
• Landscape: Studio ONB
• Structure and civils: Simple Works
• M&E, sustainability and technical consultant: XCO2
• Planning consultant: HTA Design
• Cost consultant: Bristow

Clapton Park Estate 

Nye Bevan Estate garages by Citizens Design Bureau

Nye Bevan Estate garages

• Nine three-bed houses targeting Passivhaus energy standard, all for social rent
• Creating a new pocket park area for the estate
• Retained communal planters along the street
• Replicable design that we hope to use at other small sites in the borough
• £20,000 funding from the GLA’s Small Sites Small Builders programme

Project team:

• Architect: Citizens Design Bureau
• Landscape: Mark Lemanski Studio
• Cost consultant: Bristow Consulting
• Planning consultant: HTA Design
• Multidisciplinary engineering consultant: XCO2

Blackwell Close garages by Al-Jawad Pike

Blackwell Close garages

• 18 homes for social rent in a five-floor building (six 1-bed homes (including two accessible unites), eight 2-bed homes and four 3-bed homes)
• New step-free access
• Play areas for different age groups
• Relocated community garden
• New defensible spaces to address residents’ safety concerns

Project team:

• Architect: Al-Jawad Pike
• Landscape: Periscope
• Cost consultant: Bristow Consulting
• Planning consultant: HTA Design
• Multidisciplinary engineering consultant: XCO2

Fellows Court and Weymouth Court

Weymouth Terrace by Balaam Murphy

Weymouth Court garages

The Weymouth Court Garages project has been carefully designed to make the most out of a constrained site – on the edge of a conservation area and opposite the Grade II-listed Haggerston School – while respecting the needs of existing residents.

The concept places the emphasis on liveability and defines two new amenity spaces – a courtyard garden for new and existing residents – and a deck structure that oversized amenity spaces for each new home and animates the street. Economic yet robust, simple materiality ensures the scheme is deliverable as designed and will last.

The development takes a fabric-first approach, targets a net zero carbon standard and has a low Form Heat Loss Factor. Communal Air Source Heat Pumps are at roof level, with renewable energy provided by photovoltaic panels and a blue and green roof.

Fellows Court garages by Nooma Studio

Fellows Court garages

NOOMA Studio is the plot architect for a high-density development of 28 social rent family homes as part of Hackney Council’s New Homes Programme. The scheme focuses on community wellbeing and sustainable living, and embraces principles of social threshold design that nurture connection while respecting privacy.

At its heart, Fellows Court is about everyday neighbourliness. Staggered 2-metre-deep balconies encourage quiet conversations across floors, creating opportunities for connection without intrusion. The “Table to the City” window design lowers sill heights in living rooms to invite children, seated residents, and wheelchair users to engage with life outside, building a sense of belonging and visibility.

The project is designed to Passivhaus principles that ensures energy efficiency addressing fuel poverty. The ground plane integrates secure storage for buggies, bikes, and mobility aids, while generous landscaping and estate improvements contribute to a greener, healthier public realm.

Project team on Weymouth Court

• Architects: Balaam Murphy
• Landscape: LDA Design
• Cost consultant: Exigere
• Planning consultant: HTA Design
• Multidisciplinary engineering consultant: XCO2

Project team on Fellows Court

• Architects: NOOMA Studio
• Landscape: LDA Design
• Cost consultant: Exigere
• Planning consultant: HTA Design
• Multidisciplinary engineering consultant: XCO2