Hackney Design Awards put residents’ favourites in contention

A home extension, restored building, pocket park or landscaped public space could earn a place among Hackney’s standout designs this autumn.

Free nominations for the Hackney Design Awards open on 1 September 2026. Anyone can propose an eligible project, while Hackney residents will later be able to vote in the People’s Choice Award. Winners will be announced at Hackney Town Hall in December, although Hackney Council has not yet provided the ceremony’s exact date, start time or attendance arrangements.

At a glance

Which Hackney projects can be nominated

Eligible projects must have been completed between September 2024 and August 2026. The scope covers new buildings, retrofits, restorations, extensions, public spaces and landscaping projects across the borough.

That range means nominations are not restricted to major developments. Hackney Council specifically presents private homes, small schemes and pocket parks alongside larger buildings and public spaces, giving residents several ways to interpret what might merit recognition in their neighbourhood.

Submitting a nomination puts a project forward for consideration rather than guaranteeing it a place among the finalists. An independent panel of experts will create the shortlist, with judging visits scheduled for October.

Retrofit, heritage and inclusive design have dedicated categories

Alongside the main awards, special categories will recognise Retrofit, Climate Resilience, Heritage & Restoration and Inclusive Communities. These categories allow nominated work to be considered for particular aspects of design as well as within the wider awards programme.

The People’s Choice Award provides a separate route for public involvement. Introduced in 2010, it allows Hackney residents to select their favourite from all shortlisted nominations. Residents can therefore participate at two stages: by proposing eligible projects after nominations open and by voting once the shortlist is available.

The awards began in 2004 and have since attracted more than 400 nominations and produced over 100 winners. Previous recipients include the Portico, 208 Cassland Road, Yorkton Workshops, Taylor Court and Britannia Leisure Centre.

Councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Inclusive Neighbourhoods, said the awards were intended to reflect the variety of design across the borough, from private homes and pocket parks to larger developments.

What happens after nominations open

The next confirmed step is the opening of free nominations on 1 September, followed by shortlist judging visits in October and the winners’ ceremony at Hackney Town Hall in December.

Practical information for the ceremony remains limited. Hackney Council has not supplied an exact December date, start time, Town Hall street address, attendance or booking instructions, transport guidance or accessibility details. Anyone considering attending should therefore check the council’s published awards information for those details when they become available; for now, the confirmed public action is to nominate an eligible project from 1 September.

Source: Hackney Council