Hackney scheme to ‘reclaim the borough’s roads from cars’

Hackney parklet

People in Hackney are being encouraged to design new ‘mini-parks’, which will replace individual parking bays on streets across the borough.

The mini-parks – known as parklets – are part of a new Hackney Council trial designed to ‘reclaim the borough’s roads from cars’.

Residents’ ideas for parklets could include planters, benches, games or notice boards, with successful applicants able to access grants of up to £150 to help with the cost of setting them up.

The trial scheme will support 15 parklets, which will be in place for between one and six months. The most successful can then apply to become permanent.

Cllr Feryal Demirci, deputy mayor of Hackney, said:

“We’re delighted to deliver on our commitment to residents to launch a residential parklets scheme.

“This is in line with the ambition in our Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan to make sure that by 2025, Hackney has the most liveable and sustainable neighbourhoods and streets in London.

“Only 35% of households in Hackney own a car. Our parklets scheme will help reclaim our streets from the car and open up spaces to the whole community.

“By encouraging local people to join forces and host their own parklets, they will not only be able to make their street a better place, but work with their neighbours in the process. I can’t wait to see the ideas we get, and look forward to visiting the finished parklets.”

Applications for the trial opened on 25 July with a roadshow on Broadway Market showcasing two parklets, one of which was set up by People’s Parking Bay campaigner, Brenda Puech.

Applications close on 26 August. Hackney residents can find out more and apply to host a parklet by visiting the council website


26 July 2018