Hackney to get £100m fashion 'hub'

Plans to build a major £100 million fashion outlet centre in Hackney have been given the go-ahead.

Hailed today as the first of its kind in an inner city location, the 75,000 sq ft Bicester Village-style Hackney Fashion Hub will house a mix of top brands and emerging local designers.

Developers have already started converting disused railway arches in Morning Lane and will build two buildings of five and eight floors to create the East End fashion district.

The project, a joint venture between Manhattan Loft Corporation and Chatham Works Limited, was given the green light last night by Hackney council.

Harry Handelsman, chief executive of Manhattan, the developers behind the restoration of the St Pancras Renaissance hotel, said: “The go-ahead for The Hackney Fashion Hub is great news for Hackney and for London as the fashion capital of the world. We are delighted these visionary plans have been granted permission.”

The railway arches conversion and wider improvements to Hackney central town centre are being supported by £2 million of post-riot regeneration funding from the Greater London Authority and £3.3 million from Network Rail.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “This is part of an exciting wider economic regeneration of Hackney which will completely revamp the high street, and create hundreds of jobs and training opportunities for local people.”