Hackney Council has rejected plans for a new self-storage facility at the crumbling Anvil House, citing design flaws, energy efficiency concerns, and incomplete ecological surveys. The decision, made on August 4, marks the second failed attempt by developer EQT Real Estate to secure planning permission for the site.
Proposal Details and Local Context
Anvil House, located on the edge of Hackney and once a builder's merchant, has been empty and is in urgent need of redevelopment as structural cracks threaten its collapse. EQT Real Estate proposed partially demolishing the warehouse to build a STOREX facility featuring modern storage spaces managed via apps and smart locks, eight “Fab Lab” digital workshops, and a garden. The company claimed the project would create up to 60 local jobs and serve as a quiet “good neighbour” to the nearby primary school.
However, Hackney's planning authority refused permission, finding the proposals lacking in several critical areas, including energy use, security against anti-social intruders, and the absence of bat surveys.
Council Objections and Design Concerns
Town hall planners ruled that the planned building required a major redesign due to the “excessively prominent” top storey, which was out of character with the surrounding streets. The proposed 318 sqm garden was deemed too small and at risk of attracting antisocial behaviour due to a lack of passive surveillance.
The council also stated that the developer failed to prove how the new building would regulate temperatures year-round, including through insulation materials and technologies to avoid overheating, in line with council policy. Assistant Director of Planning, Natalie Broughton, noted that the development would use “some poor quality external materials.” While she did not specify the materials, the application indicated reliance on composite systems such as brick-slip cladding and steel sandwich panels rather than traditional brickwork.
Additional Deficiencies and Previous Attempt
The plans included space for only a single bin store shared by all facility users, which warranted further redesign. Additionally, ecologists had not completed all minimum bat survey visits, a requirement under planning regulations to prove schemes do not harm protected species or local wildlife.
This is the developer's second failed attempt to secure planning approval for the site, following an initial application that was revised after officers raised concerns. The rejection means the future of Anvil House remains uncertain, with the building continuing to deteriorate as stakeholders seek a viable redevelopment plan.
