The parklet programme is available to Hackney residents and community groups.
Parklets in Hackney
This map shows all publicly available parklets in the borough.
Do you want a parklet of your own?
We’re supporting residents with the opportunity to provide new community parklets in the borough. These will be delivered by the council in collaboration with residents and local community groups.
If you become a Parklet Keeper, you will be responsible for the:
- design of the scheme
- cost for construction and installation of the structure
- upkeep and maintenance of your parklet
We review submissions to make sure suggested locations are suitable.
Applications must meet eligibility and design criteria.
Parklet locations should be well-placed, safe to use on the carriageway (the part of the road for vehicles) and offer the greatest benefit to the people who may use them.
We will approve up to 3 community or resident parklet applications in 2025.
See examples
Application process stage 1: initial parklet proposal
1
Register your interest
You can let us know if you’re interested in owning a Parklet at any time, as expressions of interest are open all year.
However, we only accept applications once a year, during the spring, with this year’s application window starting in April 2025.
We’ll send the details to everyone who has shown interest.
2
Read the parklet design guidance
3
Discuss with your neighbours and get their support
Speak to as many people as possible who live near the proposed site and include those on the opposite side of the street. Tell them what you are planning.
The more support you get, the greater the chance of your proposal going forward. You will be required to provide evidence of this in your Stage 2 application.
4
Complete your Stage 1 application
When the application window opens, we will be in touch with you to confirm your intent to apply for a parklet and will provide you with the Stage 1 application form.
We will evaluate proposals to see if they are workable in principle and where the location is suitable at a fundamental level (for example, not representing a safety hazard) If you are successful at this first stage you will be invited to produce a more detailed Stage 2 application.
If your Stage 1 proposal is rejected, we will provide feedback on why it was not suitable. You will have the opportunity to re-apply again using the Stage 1 application form.
Application process stage 2: detailed parklet proposal
1
Maintenance plan
A maintenance plan must be provided which sets out any regular maintenance that must be undertaken on your parklet for it to remain fully functional. This should include:
- general maintenance and repairs (i.e. to fixed items and furniture)
- plant maintenance
- cleaning
2
Finance plan
You will need to provide evidence that you can afford the maintenance costs for your parklet, to ensure its upkeep.
You should therefore seek cost estimates for parklet maintenance and set these out on an annual basis.
3
Evidence of local support
You will need to provide the full evidence of local support, which you will have started collecting during your Stage 1 application. This will ensure a smoother statutory consultation period following submission of your Stage 2 application.
4
Road safety audit
A road safety audit is a requirement for your parklet proposal, as it will identify any potential road safety issues. Road safety audits will be organised by Council officers, and they will provide you with details of this during the early stages of your Stage 2 application.
The audit will take into consideration the following matters:
- road layout and markings
- position of signs
- lighting provision
- construction and dimensions of the parklet
5
Traffic Management Order
The last stage of your Stage 2 application will involve the Council posting notice of a Traffic Management Order – a statutory requirement when changes are made to the highway and which involves a public consultation period.
As with all public consultations, it is possible that your proposal will receive objections. While we do not wish for this to be the case, if the Council receives a high number of objections it will be difficult to deliver your proposal and may ultimately lead to your parklet application being rejected.
However, by ensuring your proposal meets the guidance set out above and by providing us with a community letter of support, you stand the best chance of your proposal passing the consultation successfully.
This step will be undertaken by Council officers and will not require any further input from the parklet applicant.
6
Final approval
If you are successful with all of the previous steps, your application will be approved by council officers and you will be asked to enter into a parklet keeper agreement with the council.
Parklet Keepers are responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of the Parklet on a day-to-day basis and throughout its life, in agreement with the council.
Once your agreement has been signed you will be able to start installing your parklet.
Parklet Frequently Asked Questions
What is a parklet?
Parklets can be defined as small, urban parks which are typically installed within on-street parking bays, providing amenities such as:
- planting
- seating
- decking
- cycle parking
Parklets convert kerbside parking spaces into vibrant community spaces, typically extending the pavement to provide more public space.
These spaces help to reduce the dominance of vehicles, making areas greener, more liveable and pleasant for the benefit of the local community and all that would like to enjoy it.
Where are parklets located?
You can find the locations of the parklets using our parklets in Hackney map.
Community parklets
Community parklets are intended to be accessible by all members of the public.
These parklets can feature planters and seating and are often located outside of a specific residential property.
Where possible, community parklets should not be located directly in front of any one single business. Community parklets cannot be used to perform any commercial activity.
As community parklets provide seating which is located on the public highway, this is lawfully considered public seating and must remain accessible to the public at all times.
Business parklets
Some parklets may include a commercial element, like having food and drink served to them from a local business, which will incur a licensing fee
These parklets are located in such a way that the space is used by a single business by way of a shop front trading licence that has been issued by our Markets and Shop Front service.
At this moment in time businesses cannot go through the Streetscene team for a parklet such as this.
Businesses that have licensed parklet space for trading have the right to withdraw use from the public, if the person or persons are not a paying customer, but do not have any provision in law or legislation to forcibly remove them.
You can find details of how to apply for a shop fronts trading licence, including terms and conditions on our shop front trading licence page.
Who owns the parklet?
The parklet owner is the group or organisation that has implemented the scheme.
Some parklets in the borough have been designed and installed by Hackney Council. For these schemes, the Council is the Parklet Owner.
Other parklets are owned by individuals or groups in the community that have designed and installed their Parklet structure through Hackney’s Community Parklet Programme.
Who maintains and looks after the parklet?
A number of parklets in the borough are maintained by Hackney Council directly.
Parklets that are not maintained directly by Hackney Council are looked after by ‘Parklet Keepers’, in agreement with the Council.
Parklet Keepers can be an individual representing a household, community group or business; or, an organisation where a nominated individual is listed as a point of contact.
Parklet Keepers are responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of the parklet on a day-to-day basis and throughout its life, in agreement with the Council.
How is seating managed for parklets?
Some parklet structures feature fixed seating, others include foldaway seating which can be locked, or patio space for removable furniture to be deployed in the morning and removed overnight.
Foldaway and removable seating is managed by the Parklet Keeper for each location.
All seating placed on the public highway whether licensed to a premises or supplied by us is lawfully considered public seating.
What is the lifespan of a parklet?
The designs and materials used to make parklets can vary, but it is anticipated that the lifespan of a parklet structure is approximately five years. After this point, the road space
where the structure is placed may be converted into a permanent kerbside pocket park.
What size is a parklet?
The kerbside is a finite resource with a great many competing demands placed on it that we have to balance as the local Highway Authority.
At this time, our community parklets are limited to 5.5 metres or the equivalent of 1 parking space in length.
A number of Hackney owned parklets are 10m in length.
Who pays for the parklet?
Parklets are delivered as a partnership between Hackney Council and residents, communities or businesses, with each bearing certain costs and responsibilities.
During the life of the parklet, the parklet keeper will be responsible for its regular maintenance and upkeep as well as for its eventual removal.
Hackney Council will provide officers to help with managing our processes and to provide design, installation and internal sign-off.
Note that this can involve the Council in considerable expense and that officers will be diverted away from other projects related to health, safety and sustainability.
How long will this process take?
We would expect the time frame from a successful application to having a working parklet to be at least 90 days.
This might be a little shorter or longer depending on a wide range of factors but one of the criteria that we are using to select successful proposals is that they be deliverable within this sort of timeframe.
Where is the best place for a parklet on my street?
This is for you to decide with your neighbours and the other residents on your street.
Think about how this might work best in the street layout.
We will review the location proposed and provide advice on locations, if the initial location is not suitable.
For example, we recommend that you do not place a parklet at the end of a street or near a junction.
Hackney Streetscene will have to take other considerations into account before approving a location.
It may not be possible for us to approve the location that you suggest.
Not all my neighbours support our parklet, will I still be allowed to apply?
Unfortunately this is a possibility, as not everyone may be in favour of your proposal.
Think about location and any specific concerns that are raised. Can you amend your proposal to address the issues that are causing concern before you apply?
The decision will not be based on counted votes, but by the number of objections received at the official consultation stage.
A high number of objections can make it difficult or even impossible for officers to justify your parklet proposal.
What if I want a parklet for just one day?
There is already a mechanism that allows for temporary street closures to allow for street parties and/or play streets.
A one day installation is more suited to these types of uses.
What if I want a parklet outside my business?
Our Streetscene team will not accept any parklet proposal which include commercial usage, such as:
- those with customer only seating
- where a service is provided to users of the parklet (for example food or drinks service)
I want to discuss parklets with the council. Who do I get in touch with?
If you have any further queries regarding parklets, contact us.
We’ll aim to respond to you within 10 working days.
