ESTATE
Contacts, Regeneration Plans & History of Kings Crescent
This page provides information on key contacts at Hackney if you have any housing issues to report, as well as giving updates about the next phase of regeneration and providing historical information about Kings Crescent Estate.
Estate Issues
There are various Hackney departments involved in the management of Kings Crescent.
- Information for tenants: https://hackney.gov.uk/your-tenancy-agreement
- Information for leaseholders: https://hackney.gov.uk/your-lease
- Service charges and all leasehold related queries: service.charges@hackney.gov.uk
- https://www.gov.uk/leasehold-property/leaseholder-rights-and-responsibilities
Contact details for Hackney departments & information for tenants, leaseholders and shared ownership properties:
- Housing repairs are reported either by webchat or by phone whether urgent or non-urgent:
- webchat service available Mon-Fri 09:00-16:30. You can access this service via Hackney’s website (https://hackney.gov.uk/) by clicking the “Chat with Us” button in the bottom right corner.
- https://repairs.hackney.gov.uk
- repairsmanagement@hackney.gov.uk
- Emergency Housing Repairs out of hours service telephone number: 020 8356 3691
- Estate or block cleaning queries: cleaner.estates@hackney.gov.uk or call 0208 356 2121
- Grounds maintainance: estate.gardeners@hackney.gov.uk
- For matters regarding the overall management of the estate including estate inspections, complaints, investigations, low level antisocial behaviour: neighbourhood@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 3330
- Complaints: complaints@hackney.gov.ukor call 020 8356 3770
- Community Safety: https://hackney.gov.uk/crime-and-safety
- Anti-social Behaviour (ASB): asb.housing@hackney.gov.uk
- Local police Brownswood.snt@met.police.uk
Report illegal parking: email parking.enforcement@hackney.gov.uk or if your enquiry is urgent, e.g. someone is blocking your driveway, you can request parking enforcement by calling: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm: 020 8356 8877 / 5pm to 8:45pm: 020 8356 7555 Saturday, 7.30am to 8.30pm: 020 8356 7555 Sunday, 8.15am to 4.30pm: 020 8356 7555
There will be quarterly ‘Enhanced’ TRA meetings, which are are attended by Hackney representatives and are a place for residents to discuss estate concerns. These ETRA meetings happen in October, January, May and August.
To see dates of upcoming meetings and what was discussed in previous ETRA and other meetings you can find the minutes posted in the relevant event page.
Regeneration Updates
Kings Crescent is in the middle of a massive regneration project. The Northside existing blocks were refurbished and newer blocks were completed in 2017 and we are now heading into phases 3 & 4.
The Southside blocks (Bramfield, Therfield, Datchworth and Weston Courts) are due to be refurbished with new entrances, balconies, redecoration etc. Plus there will be another phase of building new blocks, a central public space and new community centre (see photos below).
You can see the latest updates here: https://kingscrescent.org/2020/06/22/regeneration-update-june-2020/
You can also join the ‘Kings Crescent Estate regeneration‘ Facebook group to see updates from Hackney and Source Partnership.
Projected timeline for refurbishment of Southside blocks and building of new blocks (updated Feb 2022):
- Durkan has now been selected as the new contractor for phases 3 & 4
- Sign-off of the contract should happen in April 2022
- The refurbishment works to the Southside blocks should start Summer 2022 with Bramfield Court and work its way across to Weston Court with aim aim to complete refusbshment by the end of 2023
- The new buildings should start being built during that time with full completion of works sometime in 2025
Please be aware this is a rough projection and timelines can slip! The photos below show an outline of the plans.
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- Artists impression of the completed work to Kings Crescent, birds-eye view of all of the blocks, refurbishment to Southside blocks and new public realm green spaces
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- Artist impression of the proposed Public Square from the Play Street with Theobalds Court in the background
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- Computer generated future view from the top of Murrain Road (between Bramfield & Rushden Courts) looking down the play street towards Clissold Park
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- Computer generated future view into Kings Crescent from Clissold Park entrance opposite Sainsburys
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- Model of phases 3&4, view from Queens Drive with new buildings in white
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- Model of phases 3&4, view from Brownswood Road with new buildings in white
For further information on the proposed designs see:
Hackney’s Website: https://hackney.gov.uk/kings-crescent-estate
Architects website: http://karakusevic-carson.com/work/kings-crescent-estate-masterplan
You can also read the minutes of the Resident Steering Group (RSG) meetings posted within the events pages on this website
Kings Crescent Story
The following ‘Kings Crescent Story’ was put together by Bronwen Thomas from Hackney’s Regeneration Team.
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- Early History
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- Early 20th History
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- Kings Crescent Estate
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- Community on the Estate
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- Decline & Demolition
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- Regeneration
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- A New Community
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- The future of the estate
A bit about the history of Kings Crescent
(Kindly written for the Website by Carol Squires from Source Partnership in September 2019)
History of Regeneration at Kings Crescent
The regeneration of the Kings Crescent estate began over 20 years ago with the demolition of two 1960s tower blocks. The first replacement new build blocks completed at Barkway Court in 2002 by Circle 33 Housing. The demolition of Codicott Terrace, Westmill Court and parts of Kelshall Court , Lemsford Court and Weston Court followed as tenants were able to be rehoused within the estate and elsewhere depending on personal choice. Between 2004 and 2009 there were several attempts to restart the rebuilding process with developer partners but none of them met the Council’s and residents’ aspirations for the community. From 2009 onwards, the Council decided to do housing regeneration themselves as this gave better control over the quality and type of new homes.
Following extensive consultation, a Master Plan was agreed in 2012 and planning permission was granted in 2013. Higgins Construction were appointed to refurbish the retained blocks and build 273 new homes and work on site on the Northside of the estate began in 2015 and was completed in 2017.
The final stage of the regeneration is the Southside of the estate which is now at is at the consultation stage and it is hoped that a start on site will be achieved by the end of 2019. Residents have waited a long time for the transformation of the estate and we hope that the community will continue to engage in proposals.
Resident Involvement
Kings Crescent Estate has a proud history of resident involvement having previously had a very strong and active tenants and residents association with a full programme of social, youth and community activities. The Garden Club and the Vince Murrain Community Centre are just a small part of what they achieved. The tenants and residents association was proactive in seeking solutions from the Council to the problems of the estate when buildings were beyond economic repair. They also set up a tenant management organisation to improve services to the estate but decided that their energies were best targeted in getting the regeneration under way.
A Regeneration Steering Group was established to oversee the Master Planning and developer selection and has influenced:
- How many and what type of homes were to be built
- The rehousing opportunities for the community
- Capping of leaseholder recharges
- Community initiatives
- Provision of community and commercial space
- Local employment opportunities
The Regeneration Steering Group will continue until the last home is occupied in the Southside regeneration. They will support the final planning application and be actively involved in selecting the developer for the next stage.
In 2017 a Supported Residents Group was formed to bring together the old community and welcome newcomers to the estate. The group also raises problems with the housing service with relevant officers of the Council So far they have:
- Raised problems of anti-social behaviour with the Council and Police
- Participated in estate walkabouts to look at cleaning and repairs issues
- Held a big lunch event
- Participated in planning two large community events
- Organised a coach trip to Broadstairs
It was hoped that this group would eventually become a tenants and residents association and be active in developing a full programme of social, youth and community activities – and we are pleased to see this has happened!
