Hackney Britannia project

Creating social value to enrich the community

Working with those in the local community to support long-term growth

Social value sits at the heart of Hackney Britannia. As the project is central to the wellbeing and development of the community, the team not only wants to deliver a long-lasting positive legacy through the provision of the new school and leisure centre, but also via the creation of employment and development opportunities.

The team has been involved in a number of schemes across the borough:

• Partnering with Hackney-based Shoreditch Trust charity, which works to address inequality, supporting people who are facing life and health problems to create a healthier future for themselves
• Delivering schools careers events, as well as working with a number of local support groups including, the ‘Elders Feast,’ a celebratory Christmas event, which welcomed those who were supported by the Stroke Association and Starlight over 50s for a three-course dinner and Christmas carols
• Jobs fairs to partner local organisations and the Morgan Sindall Construction supply chain with recruits, this included organisations from various sectors including GLL, New City College and the Metropolitan Police. A number of positions were filled, and the team welcomed three new starters to the project
• Working with Women in Construction, to support a group of 15 local women with mentoring, employment skills and CV support

Using cycling as the vehicle to promote sustainbility and wellbeing

The project is located next to the Transport for London (TfL) Cycleways in London (previously Cycle Super Highways and Quietways). On a typical summer’s day, 5,000 cyclists use the CS1 highway, a factor that the project team needed to account for, with careful planning around logistics and deliveries.

Alongside supply chain partners Speedy Plant Hire and TNT deliveries, the team used cargo-bikes to transport materials to site, which resulted in a pioneering, zero-emissions delivery programme.

The team worked with Transport for London and the Hackney Council Streetscene team to agree logistics ahead of works commencing and ensure the project’s impact on passing cyclists and traffic would be minimal. The team has also held numerous review meetings with the TfL and Streetscene to review and refine the project logistics to ensure cyclists can enjoy passing the project.

The projects traffic marshals have undertaken the Transport for London ‘Elite Marshal’ training to better understand the Cycle Super Highway and ensure they’re able to support passing cyclists.

The team has also worked closely with specialist access company, Wheels for Wellbeing, to ensure that the site’s surrounding routes were fully accessible. This involved the project team working with the company to carry out a comprehensive audit of the site to ensure it is fully accessible. The team also had the opportunity to experience access routes from the perspective of a wheelchair user – helping to provide a new viewpoint and understanding of the challenges faced by those with limited mobility. This is part of the team’s ongoing commitment to work with Transport for London (TfL) and Streetscene to ensure the construction site boundary is easily accessible for all users.