Completed in January 2024, the Wick Lane development revitalises Hackney Wick by integrating 175 dual-aspect homes with 2,250 square metres of light industrial workspace, preserving employment while reflecting the area’s rich industrial past through innovative design and materiality.
The Wick Lane development in Hackney Wick represents a thoughtful integration of residential and industrial uses, designed by dRMM Architects as part of a wider regeneration initiative supported by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). This project, delivered for Taylor Wimpey and completed in January 2024, brings together 175 homes and 2,250 square metres of light industrial and creative workspace, aiming to preserve employment opportunities while expanding housing in an area with a rich industrial past.
Unlike conventional mixed-use schemes that simply stack homes above industrial units, Wick Lane adopts a co-location strategy that interweaves commercial and residential functions across the site. The development is strategically positioned between Strategic Industrial Land to the south and the Fish Island Conservation Area to the north, using employment and industrial spaces along the southern boundary as a buffer to shield residents from the adjacent industrial land. Podium-level gardens serve as outdoor amenity spaces, providing a green buffer and enhancing the living environment for residents.
Architecturally, Wick Lane draws heavily from the industrial heritage of Hackney Wick and Fish Island, with the six distinctive buildings employing materials such as red and black brick, metal cladding, cast glass, and ribbed blockwork. Each building is defined by a dominant material that extends uniformly across roofs, walls, and soffits, evoking industrial typologies native to the surrounding area. Balconies feature a mix of inset and projecting designs, crafted from glass, red steel, and black steel, adding a dynamic layer of texture and colour. The varied architectural forms range from classic mill-style red brick to more contemporary metal finishes such as corrugated and standing seam panels.
The residential offering focuses on well-considered layouts, with 72% of homes designed to be dual aspect, optimising natural light and views. Many residences overlook the Greenway—an elevated, linear park that links the development to both Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park—strengthening residents’ connection to larger green spaces and encouraging community interaction.
Street-facing workspaces and standalone double-height units cater especially to light industrial and maker businesses. These commercial spaces are managed by start-up enterprise Tradestars, with interiors thoughtfully fit out by Sophie Franks Designs, complementing the architectural intent of fostering a creative and productive environment. The landscaping, by Grant Associates, plays a key role in stitching the development into the broader urban fabric, enhancing public realms and supporting the ambitions for a mixed-use neighbourhood that feels cohesive yet vibrant.
dRMM’s involvement in Hackney Wick began back in 2013 through contributions to the LLDC’s Design and Planning Guidance, which has informed much of the evolution of industrial land in the area. According to Philip Marsh, director at dRMM, Wick Lane is envisioned as “a wonderful reimagining of the spirit of Hackney Wick and Fish Island; an idealised vision of its proud industrial and creative heritage.” This ethos is manifest not only in the materiality and architectural language but in the project’s broader social ambition to create places where people can both live and work harmoniously.
The project underlines a growing trend in urban regeneration—where employment space is not sacrificed to housing pressures but creatively combined to support sustainable community growth. In this example, the fusion of industrial legacy and contemporary living conditions marks a significant step for Hackney Wick, reflecting both respect for its history and optimism for its future.
Reference Map:
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/in-pictures-drmms-mixed-use-industrial-and-residential-scheme-in-hackney-wick/5136760.article – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://drmmstudio.com/project/wick-lane/ – dRMM Architects’ Wick Lane project in Hackney Wick integrates 175 homes with 2,250 square metres of commercial space, blending residential and industrial uses. The design references the area’s industrial heritage through materials like red and black brick, metal cladding, cast glass, and ribbed blockwork. The development includes podium-level gardens and landscaped public spaces, fostering community interaction and connecting to the Greenway, an elevated linear park linking Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The project was delivered for Taylor Wimpey and completed in January 2024.
- https://www.theplan.it/eng/architecture/wick-lane-drmm – The Wick Lane development by dRMM Architects in Hackney Wick combines 175 homes with 2,250 square metres of commercial space, integrating residential and industrial uses. The design draws inspiration from the area’s industrial past, incorporating materials such as red and black brick, metal cladding, cast glass, and ribbed blockwork. The project includes podium-level gardens and landscaped public spaces, enhancing community interaction and connecting to the Greenway, an elevated linear park linking Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The development was completed in January 2024.
- https://www.ribaj.com/products/spec-wick-lane-drmm-hackney-wick-east-london-housing-residential-business – dRMM Architects’ Wick Lane project in Hackney Wick integrates residential and industrial spaces, referencing the area’s industrial heritage through varied roof forms and materials. The development consists of six distinct buildings, each reflecting Hackney Wick’s industrial heritage through varied architectural styles, from a red brick mill-style to contemporary corrugated metal and standing seam finishes. The project includes podium-level gardens and landscaped public spaces, fostering community interaction and connecting to the Greenway, an elevated linear park linking Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The development was completed in January 2024.
- https://architecturetoday.co.uk/wick-lane-drmm/ – dRMM Architects’ Wick Lane project in Hackney Wick combines 175 homes with 2,250 square metres of commercial space, integrating residential and industrial uses. The design references the area’s industrial heritage through materials like red and black brick, metal cladding, cast glass, and ribbed blockwork. The development includes podium-level gardens and landscaped public spaces, fostering community interaction and connecting to the Greenway, an elevated linear park linking Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The project was completed in January 2024.
- https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/drmms-mix-and-match-hybrid-at-hackney-wick – dRMM Architects’ Wick Lane project in Hackney Wick integrates residential and industrial spaces, referencing the area’s industrial heritage through varied roof forms and materials. The development consists of six distinct buildings, each reflecting Hackney Wick’s industrial heritage through varied architectural styles, from a red brick mill-style to contemporary corrugated metal and standing seam finishes. The project includes podium-level gardens and landscaped public spaces, fostering community interaction and connecting to the Greenway, an elevated linear park linking Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The development was completed in January 2024.
- https://www.tibbalds.co.uk/news/mixed-use-development-at-wick-lane-hackney-featured-in-architectural-press – Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design’s heritage advice contributed to dRMM Architects’ Wick Lane project in Hackney Wick, integrating 175 homes with 2,250 square metres of commercial space. The design references the area’s industrial heritage through materials like red and black brick, metal cladding, cast glass, and ribbed blockwork. The development includes podium-level gardens and landscaped public spaces, fostering community interaction and connecting to the Greenway, an elevated linear park linking Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The project was completed in January 2024.
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Score: 8
Notes: The narrative presents recent developments regarding the Wick Lane project, with the latest information from May 2025. The project was completed in January 2024, and the most recent updates are from May 2025, indicating that the content is relatively fresh. However, the narrative includes detailed architectural descriptions and quotes that appear to be recycled from earlier publications, suggesting that while the data is current, some content may have been reused. Additionally, the narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The presence of multiple references to the same sources indicates that the content may have been republished across various platforms, potentially flagging it as recycled. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the repetition of content across multiple outlets suggests that the information may have been disseminated widely without significant new insights. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is from May 2025, indicating that the narrative is relatively fresh. However, the presence of recycled content and the reliance on a press release suggest that the freshness score should be moderated.
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