The Planning Sub-Committee of Hackney Council met on Wednesday 29 July 2026 and considered two separate development proposals. The committee resolved to grant conditional planning permission for the construction of a new secondary school at Beis Malka Girls School and for the change of use and extension of a property at 25 Amhurst Park to accommodate a synagogue.

Beis Malka Girls School, 93 Alkham Road, Hackney, London, N16 6XD

The committee resolved to grant conditional planning permission for the demolition of existing school buildings and the construction of a new part single-storey, part four-storey school building with a basement hall and rooftop play area. This development will also involve the refurbishment and extension of an existing school building to provide administrative offices and a playgroup. The decision was made subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement.

The proposal aims to address an identified need for additional school places in the Stamford Hill area, particularly for faith schools. The current school facilities are largely housed in temporary buildings and are oversubscribed. The redevelopment will provide a purpose-built school for up to 400 pupils and 30 staff, including a creche for staff children.

Concerns were raised by neighbours regarding the design, scale, and massing of the proposed buildings, as well as potential noise and disruption during construction and operation. Issues of neighbour amenity, including loss of privacy, noise from the rooftop playground, and loss of outlook, were also raised. However, officers assessed that the revised design minimised harm to neighbouring amenity and that the benefits of providing a high-quality educational facility outweighed potential negative impacts. Conditions were attached to mitigate noise from the play area and to ensure appropriate construction management.

The application also addressed heritage implications, with the site being adjacent to two locally listed buildings. The proposed development was assessed as not causing harm to the significance or setting of these assets.

Transport and highways considerations were also discussed, with the proposal aiming to be car-free, encouraging sustainable transport modes. Conditions were attached to ensure adequate cycle parking and the implementation of a travel plan and construction management plan.

Sustainability measures, including green infrastructure, biodiversity enhancements, and energy efficiency, were considered. Conditions were attached to ensure compliance with urban greening factor targets, soft landscaping plans, and the provision of bird and bat boxes. The proposal also included measures for flood risk management and sustainable drainage systems.

25 Amhurst Park, Hackney, London, N16 5DJ

Conditional planning permission was resolved to be granted for the change of use of the ground and part-first floors to a synagogue (Use Class F1(f)), along with the erection of a part single-storey side and rear wrap-around extension and a part two-storey rear extension. This decision was subject to conditions and the completion of a legal agreement.

The application was referred to the committee due to a substantial level of objections received. The proposal sought to provide a permanent place of worship for the Shtibel Gur congregation, an Orthodox Jewish community that has been operating from temporary and fragmented locations. An alternative sites assessment was submitted to demonstrate that there were no viable non-residential alternatives within the congregation's strict walking catchment area, justifying the loss of five residential units.

Concerns were raised by neighbours regarding the loss of housing, the impact on the character and appearance of the area, and potential noise and disturbance from the synagogue's use. The previous application for a similar development had been refused and dismissed on appeal due to these concerns. The revised scheme addressed these issues by significantly reducing the scale of the extensions and relocating the women's entrance further from neighbouring properties.

The design of the extensions was assessed to be a necessary operational requirement for a functional synagogue, and while there was a technical departure from the council's Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD regarding the depth of the ground floor extension, this was considered outweighed by the public benefits of providing a place of worship.

Amenity considerations, including overshadowing, loss of daylight/sunlight, outlook, and noise, were carefully reviewed. The reduced scale of the extensions and the relocation of the women's entrance were deemed to mitigate adverse impacts. Conditions were recommended to ensure noise insulation and the implementation of an operational management plan for the synagogue's use.

Transport and highway safety were considered, with the site benefiting from excellent public transport accessibility and the congregation's reliance on walking due to religious practices. The proposal was to be car-free, with provision for disabled parking and cycle storage, all to be managed through a legal agreement and conditions.

Sustainability measures, including green roofs, solar PV panels, and biodiversity net gain, were incorporated into the design. Conditions were also attached to ensure compliance with waste management requirements and the implementation of a construction management plan.