Kings Crescent

KC RSG 17 March 2026
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | Hackney Showroom, Murrain Road, London, N4 2GD
Notes of Kings Crescent Steering Group Meeting held on 17th March 2026

Present:
Cllr Clare Potter (CP) (Chair)
Residents:
RB, JWM, GG, ES, KM, EP, PD, EV, KH

In Attendance:
Ron Greenwood (RG)
Joe Stancer (JS)
Carol Squires (CS)
John Morris (JM) (minutes)
Lee Walsh (LW)
Christina Byrne (CB)

LB Hackney
LB Hackney
Source Partnership (ITLA)
Source Partnership (ITLA)
Mulalley
Mulalley

1.0
Introductions and apologies
Action

Apologies were received from Alfred Fiorentini, Paul Cushion, Menekse Saitoglu

2.0
Notes of previous meeting held 20th January 2026 and any Matters Arising not elsewhere on the agenda

2.1

Actions from last minutes:
· Discussions on play facilities ongoing between Mulalley, HHB, LBH
· Footpath has been redirected by Datchworth Court following discussions around DZ6S hoarding
· Feedback from last year’s exhibitions has been incorporated in the Statement of Community Involvement in planning application.
· Invitation for CB to attend this meeting made and she is here
· Source drop ins continuing starting at 4.30 now
· Construction vehicle mud-washing run off now being filtered and Mulalley have an agreement with Thames Water to drain straight into mains

EP raised the issue of lights on the hoardings that were discussed at the last meeting. Some are still very bright and shine into flat windows. LW -highway regulations mean that there needs to be white lights illuminating footpaths, red lights on roadways and a certain lux level maintained. RB – lights shine into her bedroom in Theobalds Ct. KH – Casbeard St seems dark. LW to investigate lighting on Casbeard St.

LW

3.0
Project update – Lee Walsh & Ron Greenwood

3.1

3.2

There is not much new to report from the last meeting. Ground investigations continue; many obstructions, e.g. under the DZ6S site and an old plant room from the towers under Casbeard St. and unregistered services uncovered. Mulalley are undertaking a mapping of the entire estate, which takes time. The water table is high as a result of the wet winter and ground conditions are poor across the whole estate. Concrete that has been unearthed is stockpiled to test if it is contaminated and if it isn’t to be re-purposed.

Questions/comments

i) KH raised the issue of mosquitos that have been a major problem, over summer months but also over the winter too. ES endorsed this, stating that agencies (unknown?) have been investigating the infestation. Bob Miller (Project Manager) is aware of this and is ensuring that, as far as possible, there is no ponding or static water. JWM mentioned the constant high level of standing water in front of the old boiler room. Again, Bob is aware of this and is striving to mitigate impact from this potential mosquito infestation.

ii) EV asked if more notice can be given when noisy works are planned. She recently tried to contact Joanna Kaye, RLO when some loud excavations started and did not receive a response. LW accepted that messaging could be better and Malcolm Stephenson, Senior Project Manager, is working with LBH to agree more effective communications plan. JS confirmed that letters are being sent out to the flats worst affected by the ongoing works. ES asked what hours Mulalley are contracted to work within. LW – 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Mon-Fri and 8.00 am to 1.00 pm on Saturdays. In response to ES’s observation that some works went on until 8.00 pm., LW noted that UKPN are not covered by Mulalley’s agreed hours, so this would have been their contractors.

iii) RG updated the meeting on progress with the planning application. This is due to be decided at a Planning Committee in late April. He asked the RSG if members would endorse a statement of support from the group, read out by CP.

KH asked if the record of community consultation included the change of brick colour on some new blocks. RG confirmed that it did.

ES suggested that the 4th bullet point in the list of aspirations: “A well managed and maintained neighbourhood where incidences of anti social behaviour are dealt with effectively,” should be more accurately classified within a management area of responsibility and therefore not a design aspiration. It was agreed to omit this bullet point.

EV stated she wouldn’t be comfortable signing this statement.

KM stated that this was the first time she has seen this document. CS – this is a slightly amended version of a statement that was agreed to and signed by CP and a number of other members for the original planning application. KH suggested this was actually less contentious than the original.

It was agreed that an amended version of the statement would be circulated for members to have another week to comment.

Source

4.0
Introduction to Christina Byrne, Social Value lead at Mulalley

4.1

CB introduced herself and gave an overview of Mulalley’s interpretation of ‘social value.’ This is focused on skills, work experience, employment opportunities and, sometimes directly and sometimes via local charities, is presented via schools and colleges. Mulalley already run a work experience programme across Hackney for 16-24 year olds. Mulalley also use their supply chain to employ local labour. They also partner with Hackney Food bank to provide donations, financial and in kind. RB has provided a list of ideas for projects with the TRA and young people, including trips off the estate while there is no play area/MUGA. Views from young people have been garnered from doorknocking across the estate.

CB – are there any other suggestions from members? It is important to provide as wide a range of choices as possible across age ranges and the local demographic. But it is also important that initiatives funded by Mulalley Social Value Team do not replicate what LBH management should be providing (e.g. maintenance of open spaces).

KM suggested that the success of the allotment/gardening group could be built on by helping generate interest in wider planting opportunities across the estate. CB gave volunteer days from within Mulalley staff as an example of how support in kind can be provided. Hackney Foodbank also has volunteering opportunities.

CP suggested the elders group is a good contact for a different segment of the Kings Crescent population. RB raised the feeling from the doorknocking exercises that many KC-resident elders do not want to attend the Friday lunches in Hackney Showroom. HS are still delivering some lunches on the estate. HS also organise other activities, e.g. over 60’s disco.

EP asked if Mulalley can generate a list of projects that have had success in the past to stimulate ideas that could work here. CP suggested this accompanies the list that LW showed the meeting of projects already funded.

LW noted the proposal for a celebration, possibly a barbecue to mark the milestone of the new planning approval. This could take the place of the next scheduled RSG date. KH asked if there could be a digger available for children who are excited by construction vehicles.

EV noted that there is an appetite for residents to meet each other more. Estate-wide social events might help promote this. CS added that the Source drop ins are available for residents who do not want to attend formal meetings.

KM acknowledged that language issues sometimes prevent greater levels of involvement. Turkish-speaking parents often bring their children to interpret but many are now getting involved in the allotment group (now there are 69 allotment beds in the phase 1 courtyards with many new people involved).

Much communication between residents at the moment is conducted via WhatsApp groups. KH – there are 127 members of the Leaseholders Action Group, with 100+ communicating on whats app. He added that there is a sense of demoralisation amongst residents in the north side ‘new’ blocks, particularly leaseholders who have experienced many issues with the management of the common areas, in particular the lifts. RB is in the process of setting up an estate-wide whats app group through the TRA.

Mulalley (CB?)

5.0
Source update

5.1
CS – drop ins still useful, held on the first Wednesday of each month, 4.30 to 6.30 in Hackney Showroom. The February drop in highlighted the appearance of the hoarding around the DZ6S site and the closure of the footpath. Credit is due to Mulalley for responding quickly to this. JS will attend the drop in on 1/4/26 to deal with queries, concerns about the proposed temporary parking rearrangements.

Source can also be a conduit for social value ideas that residents might communicate to us. We have raised the opportunities presented by the proposals for artwork or an enlivening of the Weston Court Green Lanes façade.

Further suggestions were raised for public displays: JWM – could we use the material that is available on the history of KC? Stories on hoardings? EV suggested that a better public mapping of the blocks would be welcomed.

6.0
AOB

6.1
ES sought clarification on the Weston Court Green Lanes elevation proposal. RG – the proposals at the moment are that there would be artwork that is co-designed between residents and a professional artist. CB has an artist contact who has produced work in Finsbury Park. KH noted the well known mural in Dalston and KM the artwork at Regents Park Estate that features ex residents. She suggested trying out ideas on the hoardings that currently envelop the site.

6.2
ES asked if lessons are being learnt from the experience of residents in the phase 1&2 blocks in terms of design, installation of services etc.? KH suggested that if LBH can confirm that the same issues will not affect the new blocks, the fact that these issues have been acknowledged and efforts made to ensure they do not repeat, might improve morale slightly amongst the current leaseholders. RG confirmed that LBH are of course very much aware of the issues with lifts etc. and will continue to learn lessons from phase 1&2 and strive to make sure these problems do not reoccur.

7.0
Date of next meeting

7.1
It was proposed that the June meeting would take the form of a wider community event. Current dates already occupied include 14/6 for a TRA family fun day and 11/7 for Hackney Showroom’s street party. Other suggestions included an early evening summer event, potentially on a Friday.

Kings Crescent Residents Steering Group

Meeting to be held on
Tuesday 17th March 2026 starting at 7.00pm
Hackney Showroom

AGENDA

1
Introductions and Apologies

Cllr Potter (Chair)

2
Minutes from the last meeting 20th January and matters arising

Cllr Potter (Chair)

3
Project update & RSG support for planning application
Lee Walsh, (Mulalley)

4
Introduction to Social Value Manager Christina Byrne
(Mulalley) and Discussion

Cllr Potter

5
ITLA Up-date
Carol & John
(Source Partnership)

7
AOB
Cllr Potter (Chair)

8
Date of next meeting
Cllr Potter (Chair)
