Regeneration and Planning Division
2 Hillman Street
London E8 1FB
Mr Owen Hughes / Our Ref: LBH735558-11 and LBH73559-11
/ Your Ref:
24th May 2011
Dear Mr Owen Hughes,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST
Thank you for your emails of27th April 2011 in which you requested information regardingnew housing developments in Hackney
Your request has been considered and the response is below:
Question 1: Please could you disclose the number of new housing developments Hackney Council have permitted for the next 5 years, or otherwise, the number they have permitted for the foreseeable future.
Answer 1:
The information you have requested is exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act.
Section 21 (2a) states that information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant (even though it is accessible only on payment) is exempt. In this instance, information on all housing developments permitted by Hackney Council can be found on planning page
http://www.hackney.gov.uk/planning.htm
Click on “Search Planning Explorer” which will take you to the Search Criteria. Under “Application Type” there is a drop down box – select “full planning permission” or "outline planning permission". Under “Development Type” there is a drop down box – select “new build or redevelopment". Under “Status” select “final decision”. If you enter keyword “residential” it will bring upthe relevant information that you require."
Question 2: Please also disclose the details of these developments where available, their locations as well as their estimated construction costs.
Answer 2: Please see answer to question 1 above. For those schemes provided under the Local Authority New Build Initiative details are provided below at question 3.
Question 3: Please disclose how much money Hackney Council has spent on new housing developments in the borough from 2000 to present.
Answer 3:
Local Authority Newbuild Initiative: This initiative was introduced by the Government in 2009 allowing Local Authorities to bid for grant complemented by their own resources to build homes for social rent. Hackney Council successfully bid for grant and was allocated a total of £16.26m under the two bidding rounds for the following 5 schemes. The amount of grant represents around 50% of total eligible cost of these schemes. The Council investment under this initiative amounts to £16.78m.
· Ottaway Court (Hackney Downs): development of 30 homes for social rent.
· Rendlesham House: development of 43 homes for social rent.
· Bridport House (Colville Estate- Hoxton): development of 41 homes for social rent.
· Alexandra National House (Brownswood): development of 67 homes for social rent.
· Bridge House Garage Site (Homerton): development of 20 homes for social rent.
Woodberry Down: A major residential regeneration scheme delivered in partnership with Berkley Homes. The Council’s contribution to this scheme, to date, has amounted to around £1m.
Please note the information is still covered by copyright legislation. You are not authorised to re-use this information for commercial or research purposes as defined by the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005. If you do wish to re-use this information please contact the Information Governance Team, 3rd Floor, Maurice Bishop House, Reading Lane, London, E8 1HH
If you are dissatisfied with this response and wish to appeal, please write to the Information Governance Team, Appeals, 3rd Floor, Maurice Bishop House, Reading Lane, London, E8 1HH and your complaint will be dealt with through our Internal Review procedure.
If you are still not satisfied following the Internal Review, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner. He can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone:01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Yours sincerely,
Stephen McDonald
AD Housing, Regeneration and Strategy
Tel: 020 8356 3315
Fax: 020 8356 3209
Email: