Fresh plans to transform one of London's last surviving Victorian-era tram depots in Hackney into business units and a food-and-drink space have been submitted to Hackney Council. The proposals, lodged last month by developer Tram Gate Capital Ltd, aim to refurbish the Clapton Tram Depot building on Upper Clapton Road, which has seen years of stalled development.
Refurbishment Details and Heritage Requirements
The street-facing building would undergo a significant makeover, including the installation of five brick arches in its 68-metre façade. The scheme also includes an upper-level communal terrace connected to a roughly 100 sqm public courtyard. Although the depot is not a listed building, Hackney Council has imposed strict heritage standards, forcing the developer to revise the project. Architects Yellow Cloud Studio claim to have studied the history of 19th-century tram depots to justify the arches, meeting the council's rigorous requirements.
Parts of the depot have served as a creative and commercial hub for 25 years, with more than 20 independent businesses currently occupying the building. However, other sections have fallen into disrepair and will become the core of the new development.
Demolition and New Build
A single-storey building on the corner, vacant since 2024, is set for demolition and rebuild as a two-storey structure housing six commercial units. The original tram shed's "wall," where horses that drew the tram carriages were historically kept, will undergo extensive refurbishment after decades of ad-hoc, "inconsiderate and unattractive alterations," according to the developer.
The developer promises the scheme will deliver 20 full-time jobs as part of the transformation of the site's vacant corner, which has been disused since 2024.
Historical Significance
Originally used for horse-drawn trams hauling Londoners between Clapton and Aldgate, the depot is one of the last surviving structures of its kind in the capital, according to the Hackney Society. The North Metropolitan Tramways Company purchased the site in 1873, before it was later taken over by the London County Council and then London Transport in 1933, by which point the city had switched to using electric trams.
In 2011, then-owners Executec Ltd won planning permission to bulldoze the buildings and make way for 85 flats, along with car parking and industrial units, despite stiff opposition from local campaigners who had tried unsuccessfully to have it listed as one of the few remaining Victorian horse tram depots in the country. Although several businesses were driven off the site ahead of the planned demolition, Executec sold the premises in 2014 to Upper Clapton Ltd before any work commenced.
Next Steps
Should the council approve the latest proposals, works are anticipated to commence by February 2027. The Hackney Society has previously highlighted the depot's rarity, and the new plans aim to balance modern use with heritage preservation.
