The Planning Sub-Committee of Hackney Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday 4 November 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a significant planning application for Finsgate House, alongside discussions on the committee's terms of reference and a review of delegated decisions.

Finsgate House Planning Application

A key item scheduled for discussion is the planning application for Finsgate House¹ at 5-7 Cranwood Street, Hackney, London, EC1V 9LH, under application number 2025/2794. This application concerns the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of two new structures: a 35-storey building comprising 490 co-living units and a 5-storey office building. The proposal also includes associated access, servicing, cycle parking, landscaping, and other works.

The report pack details extensive analysis of the proposal, covering numerous policy areas including the principle of development, housing need, co-living principles, affordable housing contributions, employment space, heritage impacts, design quality, neighbour amenity, highways and transport, waste and recycling, green infrastructure, biodiversity, sustainability, flood risk, and crime and fire safety.

The proposal is noted to be car-free, with significant provision for cycle parking. However, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of dedicated Blue Badge parking provision, which the Council's Highways team considers a significant detriment. The development is also expected to contribute £18.2 million towards off-site affordable housing provision, a substantial financial contribution that officers consider a key benefit.

The report highlights that while the Council's preference is for conventional C3 residential development, the specific site constraints make delivering high-quality C3 housing, particularly mixed-tenure and affordable housing, impractical. The applicant has provided a Co-living Needs Assessment suggesting a demand for such accommodation in the area, particularly for young professionals.

The design of the proposed tall building has been refined, with materials selected to reflect the local context. The report details potential impacts on numerous heritage assets, including the Moorfields Conservation Area and Armoury House, with heritage officers concluding a very low to low level of harm in most cases.

Extensive conditions are proposed, covering aspects such as commencement within three years, development in accordance with approved plans, detailed drawings for materials and facade elements, green roof specifications, biodiversity gain plans, tree protection, construction management plans, and energy efficiency measures. A legal agreement is also sought to secure various financial and non-financial contributions, including the affordable housing payment, employment training, car club credits, and highway works.

Terms of Reference for the Planning Committee

The committee is also scheduled to consider the Terms of Reference of the Planning Committee², which are effective from 1 November 2026. This item follows a resolution by Full Council to amend the committee's terms of reference, effectively establishing the Planning Sub-Committee as a full Planning Committee in its own right. The report notes that this is a governance and constitutional matter, with the Council needing to ensure revised terms of reference comply with the statutory planning framework.

Delegated Decisions

The committee will also review Delegated Decisions³, which are planning applications determined by council officers under delegated authority. This allows the committee to be informed of decisions made between formal committee meetings.