TfL is consulting on two options for Crossrail 2, and the consultation closes on 2nd August. 

While I agree Hackney needs a tube line it seems these proposals are more concerned with future central area tube congestion than the transport needs of Hackney; the Metro option will have only one station in…

Proposals for the Chelsea-Hackney tube line, first mooted in the 1930's are back on the table once again.  A working group from business consortium London First, chaired by former transport secretary Lord Adonis, has published a report urging support for Crossrail 2 and favouring route option B below.  If the proposals win political and financial support it will be at least 2033 before the…

Hackney Cyclists have circulated details of a motion on 20mph speed limits which will be debated at the Council meeting on the 21st November. The motion was…

During Open House weekend I visited 74 Amhurst Road, which the owner has extensively renovated with the environment in mind.  Wall insulation, loft insulation, solar PV, efficient lighting, double-glazing, boiler heat recovery, water harvesting, and use of recycled materials are among the many features.  

With the owner's kind permission here is a guide to the…

If you're not happy with the big banks check out Move your money.  Barclays, RBS and HSBC have all been in the media in recent days -  here are some alternatives.

This fascinating series on BBC has traced the social and planning history of London's streets from Charles Booth's poverty maps to the present day.  Next Wednesday 11th July at 9pm on BBC2 the programme features Arnold Circus, just outside Hackney, but well known in the area.

"The episode features Arnold Circus, in the east end and the story of a Victorian social experiment that changed Britain. Arnold Circus is home to the first council estate which opened in 1896. The planning…

The Cockney sparrow was once a regular fixture in our London gardens, parks and squares. However, the city lost 68% of them between 1994 and 2000. The RSPB are asking Londoners to spend an hour, sometime between 18 June and 12 July, looking for house sparrows in their gardens and/or local green spaces and parks. It will help identify where populations are doing well, just…

The North London Waste Authority which includes Hackney has been developing the North London Waste Plan which will drive investment in waste management infrastructure for the next 20 years.  The NLWP will have significant implications for what happens to  Hackney's waste in future.

It was partly the need to come up with a "preferred option" for managing Hackney's waste as part of the NLWP which was behind the recent decision to…

DECC has announced changes to the feed-in tariff for solar PV which will give some clarity for the future:

• The next tariff reduction has been delayed until 1st August, giving wavering householders another month to install and qualify for the current tariff of 21p/unit.  Installers have been offering discounts to stimulate householders to make up their minds after the uncertainty of…

As expected Hackney's cabinet decided to accept the recommendation from the recycling team to move to commingled recycling collections, starting next spring.  This will mean an end to the green box collections and the introduction of recycling sacks instead.  Instead of being sorted by hand at the roadside the recycling will be sorted by machine at Bywaters MRF (Material Recycling Facility) in Leyton.…

"No Hackney High Rise" the campaign group opposing the development of a 10 storey tower block at 22-44 London Lane, is delighted that the application was refused by Hackney Council at the planning meeting on 18th April.  In an email to supporters they say:

"We are delighted that the council has listened to local residents. We have worked on our objection to this development for the last three years and our campaign…

From Kate Mitchell:-



The Hackney Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) 2012-17 has now been adopted by Hackney Council.

The BAP is a partnership document that outlines the priorities for biodiversity in Hackney and sets out a programme of action to improve biodiversity across the borough. The plan draws together a series of actions that will ensure that best practice, policy and legislation are followed and…

Tonight Hackney's Planning committee voted 5:0 against the proposal for the Dalston Towerblock.

Open Dalston has called a celebration  on Thursday 8th March.

Sustainable Hackney is planning to expand the coverage of its green maps over the coming months, and we've got help from Hackney Council to do it.  Hackney is providing desk space and IT facilities for an intern to work with us to add many more items to the map and develop new icons.  

The new icons allow us to separate food from food growing, local community groups from regeneration projects and cycling from other transport.  We also want to expand our coverage of the local economy…

Closing date 5th March 2012.

General Apprentice Advert (pdf)

Today we've written to Cllr Demirci, the cabinet member responsible for waste and recycling as follows:-

"Sustainable Hackney understands that a paper on a change to the recycling system for street level properties will be presented to Cabinet on 20^th March.  We feel that the proposed change should be subject to a wider debate and consultation and…

The consultation on this development has been extended to 24th February.  The proposed 18 storey block  will overshadow Dalston Kingsland station.  A public meeting has been called for Tuesday 28th Feb.…

The Communities Committee has called on the government to amend the forthcoming localism bill.  Ministers say a simplified planning system is needed to boost growth and encourage sustainable development.  

The MPs highlight the default "yes" in the reforms that gives the go-ahead to development unless the adverse effects "significantly and demonstrably" outweigh the benefits.

"This carries the risk of the planning system being used to implement poorly planned,…