HWFI CDT’s focus is Hackney Wick and Fish Island in East London. Our work connects local buildings and spaces with the people, cultural organisations and enterprises that make the neighbourhood distinctive.

HWFI CDT was formed in 2017 by Stour Space, The Yard Theatre, Creative Wick and Grow, Hackney. These four local social enterprises were concerned about the impact of property development on the area’s heritage and culture. The Trust was established to help secure a lasting place for community and cultural activity.

Read about our history and team.

For HWFI CDT, community ownership means securing buildings and spaces to serve the neighbourhood over the long term. Our approach includes seeking ownership or long-term leases on community and cultural assets. The aim is to give local enterprise and civic activity a more secure future, rather than relying only on short-term access to space.

HWFI CDT has an executive team supported by a board of business and community leaders who work or live in the area. The board’s role is to keep the Trust focused on its mission and the needs of the Hackney Wick and Fish Island community.

Meet the team and board.

HWFI CDT works with property partners to explore how new and unused space can support local enterprise and community activity. At The Loop, we partnered with Halcyon Development Partners to turn warehouse space at 119 Wallis Road in Hackney Wick into a circular-economy hub. That project shows how an existing building can support productive activity rather than remain empty while awaiting redevelopment.

Explore The Loop.

Buildings that could support affordable workspace, cultural activity or community uses are relevant to HWFI CDT’s mission. Suitability depends on the specific property: its condition, location, permitted uses, costs and how long it can be available. Share details of your building or space through our contact form to start a conversation; an enquiry is not a commitment to take on the property.

Discuss a property opportunity.

HWFI CDT seeks to secure space that local creative entrepreneurs and community-serving enterprises can afford to use over the long term. The former Loop project provides an example of our approach: it brought businesses together in workspace designed to support experimentation, production and collaboration. The Loop at 119 Wallis Road is now closed. Enquiries about future workspace opportunities are welcome, but current availability is not being advertised here.

There is no single cost or responsibility split for every property partnership. A workable arrangement needs to establish what the building requires, who funds the works, who operates the space and how ongoing costs are covered. These matters need to be agreed for the particular site, alongside the terms and length of occupation.

Meanwhile use brings a building or site into use for a temporary period, often before redevelopment. Long-term community stewardship gives an organisation a more durable role in managing space for local benefit. HWFI CDT’s mission is to secure lasting access to buildings and spaces; any temporary project and any longer-term arrangement must have their own clearly agreed terms.

HWFI CDT works with public authorities as well as local businesses and property owners to support community and cultural space. Councils can contact us to discuss community engagement, policy development or opportunities connected with affordable workspace, local enterprise, circular-economy activity or the long-term use of community assets. The starting point is a specific place, local need and realistic delivery route.

Use the HWFI CDT contact form to explain your opportunity. For a property enquiry, include the location, approximate size, current condition, likely availability period and the role you would like CDT to play. This gives us a useful starting point for discussing whether the opportunity fits our mission.

Contact HWFI CDT.

The Loop was HWFI CDT’s circular-economy workspace project at 119 Wallis Road in Hackney Wick, developed in partnership with Halcyon Development Partners, Arbeit Studios and supported by ReLondon, Greater London Authority and London Legacy Development Corporation. It brought together residents and businesses working on areas such as materials reuse and zero-waste food, with space for research, production, collaboration and community engagement. The Loop at 119 Wallis Road is now closed.

HWFI CDT has secured a 99-year lease for replacement space within Halcyon Development Partners’ redevelopment. This is a future space, not a currently operating hub. There is no confirmed opening date.

Read about The Loop and its businesses.

A circular economy keeps products and materials in use and reduces waste through approaches such as reuse, repair and making new products from recovered materials. At the former Loop project, examples included Are You Mad’s work with discarded plastic and Silo’s fermentation work with food by-products. These activities connected environmental goals with practical enterprise and production.

See circular-economy activity at The Loop.

The Loop at 119 Wallis Road is closed and is not accepting workspace enquiries for that site. Contact HWFI CDT to express interest in future workspace opportunities, explaining what your business does and the space and facilities you need. An expression of interest is not a reservation or a guarantee of space; availability, eligibility, prices and occupation terms for future space are not confirmed here.

Express interest in future workspace.

No. HWFI CDT’s purpose is to secure buildings and spaces for the wider community’s long-term benefit. Supporting local enterprise is part of that work, alongside protecting cultural life and creating opportunities connected with jobs, skills and community activity. Individual projects have different uses and access arrangements, so contact us about the activity you are interested in.

Local residents, businesses and organisations can use the HWFI CDT contact form to share ideas, ask about a project or explain how they would like to contribute. Tell us about your connection to Hackney Wick or Fish Island and what you would like to discuss. Follow our social channels for news and opportunities to take part.

Get involved.