Where: Former Lesney Toys Factory, Homerton
Who For: Telford Homes / ACME Studios
What: 209 residential units, 3677 sqm commercial floorspace including 49 artist studios
Architect: Stockwool
This is a key site within the London Borough of Hackney, at the entrance to the Borough, overlooking the River Lea Navigation and Hackney Marshes. The proposal contains 209 new homes, artist studios and other commercial space in two buildings adjoining the canal, including a 15 storey tower. CMA worked to bring forward a different approach to the protection of employment floorspace issue, including within the scheme 49 affordable artists studios for use by the charity ACME. Other issues considered during the process included height, design, relationship with the adjoining Estate and the canal, flooding, renewable energy, family homes provision, affordable housing provision, tenure split and the amount of section 106 contributions. CMA Planning advised on the approach and planning strategy from conception and throughout the process, project managing the application process and securing approval from the London Borough of Hackney in August 2009. The scheme was then completed in 2012 and was shortlisted for the 2012/13 London Planning Awards (Best New Place to Live category).