Former Public Conveniences, Hackney

Beacon was appointed by the owners of a derelict site in a Conservation Area within the London Borough of Hackney in August 2011 to provide heritage advice on the redevelopment of the site.

The former public conveniences block, which dates from c.1940, sits on a prominent corner plot at the end of two predominantly 2-storey residential streets on the edge of the Clapton Pond Conservation Area. It lies adjacent to a grade II listed building and overlooks the pleasant communal pond and gardens from which the area gains its name.

A planning and conservation area consent application had been submitted to the Council in January 2011 by Claridge Architects. However, determination of the application for the demolition of the former public conveniences and redevelopment to provide 9 apartments above a commercial ground floor was pending subject to further heritage justification being provided to support the proposals.

Beacon produced a Heritage Statement which assessed the contribution that the building made to the character and appearance of the conservation area and the setting of the nearby listed buildings and other buildings of historic interest. This document was submitted to the Council in support of the application in October 2011.

Determination of the application is awaited by the end of the year (2011).