Hackney Central Wayfinding

Overview

The Hackney Central Wayfinding Strategy aims to improve how residents and visitors navigate Hackney Central by creating a more connected, accessible, and welcoming town centre. This project focuses on making the area easier to explore while reflecting Hackney’s unique identity and heritage through signs, landmarks, and route markers. Our goal is to promote safe and sustainable travel, improve accessibility, and enhance the overall experience of moving through the area.

What we’re doing

We are working to develop a series of interventions that will help people find their way around Hackney Central, uncovering the area’s unmarked routes and destinations. These improvements are designed to make key streets and spaces more accessible and intuitive.

While the specific interventions will be shaped through ongoing consultation, the strategy will focus on:

• Enhancing key routes: We will highlight walking and cycling routes to improve connections between important destinations.
• Storytelling through wayfinding: Signs, murals, and markers will be used to celebrate Hackney Central’s vibrant culture and heritage.
• Exploring public realm improvements: There may be opportunities to enhance public spaces, lighting, and other infrastructure to support the wayfinding strategy.

Why we’re doing it

As part of the wider regeneration of Hackney Central, the Wayfinding Strategy will help improve accessibility, safety, and the overall experience of the area. The town centre can be challenging to navigate, particularly for new visitors, and this project will help address that by creating clearer routes and enhancing the identity of Hackney Central. By developing this strategy, we aim to:

• Make Hackney Central more accessible and connected: Wayfinding will help people move through the area with ease, making streets and spaces more navigable.
• Promote sustainable transport: By improving walking and cycling routes, we can reduce the need for car travel, cutting down on congestion and pollution.
• Celebrate local culture: The strategy will incorporate elements that reflect the unique character of Hackney Central, making the area more inviting and engaging for residents and visitors alike.

How we’re doing it

The Wayfinding Strategy is being developed with the community’s input and feedback. Following initial engagement in July, we are currently refining the approach through ongoing consultations, with further sessions planned for September and October.

The project will involve a mix of small-scale interventions that focus on connecting key routes and improving the visibility of important destinations. As we finalise the strategy, we will work with local partners to ensure that any new features—such as signs, route markers, and public realm enhancements—reflect the needs and identity of Hackney Central.

Further details can be found on the information boards below. We encourage you to explore them and then visit the next page to complete our survey, where your feedback will help shape the final strategy.

What happens next

The Wayfinding Strategy event was held on Saturday 28th September in Town Hall Square. We invite you to explore the information boards shared during the event and visit the next page to complete our survey, as your feedback will be vital in shaping the final strategy.

As we continue to refine our approach, the project will involve a mix of small-scale interventions aimed at connecting key routes and enhancing the visibility of important destinations. Materials from the event will also be made available to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the development of the strategy.

Stay tuned for updates on the progress of the Wayfinding Strategy, and thank you for your engagement!