Neighbourhoods and Regeneration

Neighbourhoods and Regeneration will be working to ensure the delivery of the safe, green and clean agenda; successful neighbourhoods; and putting Hackney on the map. The main functions are:

Regeneration and Planning
Safer Neighbourhoods
Public Realm
Performance and Strategy
Directorate Finance

Aims and ambitions

To make Hackney a Better Place for residents, investors and visitors we will continue to:

Maximise the transformational social, physical and economic regeneration opportunities presented to Hackney including the Olympics, East London Line Extension, City fringe and development targeted estate/area based programmes of neighbourhood renewal.
Deliver significant, visible and sustainable improvement to the environment of the Borough through the Keep Hackney Clean campaign while providing a high quality and accessible public realm within a well built environment.
Build more attractive, balanced and safer neighbourhoods - underpinned by a joined up approach to further reducing both serious and lower level crimes, particularly anti-social behaviour.
Support our partner Hackney Homes to deliver Decent Homes and improved services in line with tenants and leaseholders needs and preferences and in a way which contributes to the wider improvement of local neighbourhoods.
Provide a ladder of opportunity for all our residents through access to decent affordable homes, training opportunities and jobs, and choice and opportunity for residents of Hackney seeking social housing.
Improving health, wellbeing and access by delivering our Transport Strategy and thereby; reducing air pollution; minimising dependency on car use; increasing walking, cycling and use of public transport; and, reducing traffic related accidents, particularly those involving children.
Create a Greener Hackney and respond to climate change at a local level through effectively raising awareness, encouraging greener travel and homes and lowering the boroughs carbon footprint.
Promote and further support the development of Hackney as a cosmopolitan, inspirational, working Borough of choice – a Borough that is unique, with safe, strong and cohesive communities and a shared sense of citizenship, pride, social responsibility and environmental consciousness.

Achievements and priorities

For more information about what we achieved in 2008/09 and our priorities for 2009/10 - 2012/13 please view the document below:

Neighbourhoods and Regeneration's Achievements and Priorities (120KB)

Our Service Standards

Building Control

If you make a building regulations application, we will advise you of any issues with your plans in 15 days
If we agree a site inspection is needed, we will visit within one working day
Once your building works have been approved, we will issue a completion certificate in five working days

Enforcement

If you report advertising boards or other equipment and materials blocking the pavement, we will investigate within two working days
If you report a nuisance such as noise, we will investigate within an hour.

Environmental Health

If you report dangerous or unhealthy food premises or working conditions, we will investigate in three working days
If you report food poisoning or suspected legionnaires outbreaks, we will investigate within one working day

Hygiene Services

If you request our pest control service to deal with mice, rats or other pests, we will respond within five working days
Hackney's Public conveniences are cleaned up to four times a day and we will deal with reported vandalism or repairs within 24 hours

Land Searches

If you request a land search, we will complete it within ten working days

Licensing

If you apply for a personal or premises licence, we will consider your application and give you our decision within two months
If you apply for a highway licence, we will issue your licence in five working days
If you apply for a skip licence , we will issue your licence in three working days

Markets & Street Trading

If you come into our office to apply for a casual market licence with all the correct documents, we will issue your licence within the hour
If you apply to trade on the street in front of your shop, bar or restaurant, we will inspect your premises within seven working days to let you know if it's suitable

Parking

If you report an abandoned or untaxed vehicle, we will investigate within 2 working days
If you contact us because you disagree with a parking ticket you were given , we will respond in ten working days
If you apply for a parking permit by post, we will issue your new permit in seven working days

Planning Applications

If you request advice before putting in your planning application, we will provide a planning duty desk service and give you a written response within 15 days
If you submit a planning application, we will process major applications within 13 weeks, minor and other applications in 8 weeks

Planning Enforcement

If you report a breach of planning conditions, we will investigate your complaint within 10 working days, and where action is required will close the case within 20 weeks

Private Sector Housing

If you're a private housing tenant and ask for our assistance, we will respond in five working days to let you know what action we can take
If you are a landlord and you apply for 'house in multiple occupation' accreditation, we will let you know our decision in 28 working days
If you apply for a home improvement grant and meet the requirements, your application will be processed within three months

Street Scene

If you report broken streetlights , we will repair those under our control within five working days
If you report blocked or broken roadside drains, we will clear them within five working days
If you report a dangerous damaged pavement or road, we will repair it within 24 hours

Trading Standards

If you ask for advice on business regulations, we will respond to your request in ten working days
If you report a short measure or weight relating to a purchase, we will investigate within seven working days

Waste

If you let us know that your rubblish collection was missed, we will pick it up within 24 hour
If you ask for large items of household rubbish to be removed, we will collect up to five items and agree a day for collection with you. You can make up to four requests a year
If you report rubbish dumped in the street, we will clear it within 24 hours
If you report racist or other offensive graffiti we will remove it within 24 hours

Page updated: 3 Jun 2009