Woodberry Down Estate

Woodberry Down is one of the largest single-site estate regeneration projects in London, delivering over 5,500 new homes in Hackney. From the outset, Hackney Council and the Woodberry Down Community Organisation (WDCO) wanted to ensure that energy services for the estate would be affordable, reliable, and low carbon. We were commissioned to review the district heating proposals and to explore alternative models of ownership and operation that could put residents at the heart of decision-making.

A community-focused delivery model

Working closely with residents, the Council, and the master developer Berkeley Homes, we facilitated a process of engagement and collaboration that tested different delivery approaches. Rather than defaulting to a conventional private energy company, we worked with stakeholders to assess how the network could be governed and managed for long-term community benefit.

Our recommendation was to establish a Community Interest Company jointly owned by Hackney Council and Berkeley Homes, with resident representation built into its governance. This model would ensure energy services are delivered for the benefit of community, not external stakeholders.

We continue to support the CIC working group as an independent adviser, helping shape a business plan and governance framework should the model be taken forward. Throughout, the focus has remained on sustainable community ownership, ensuring the heat network not only meets the needs of today’s regeneration but also supports the long-term interests of residents and aligns with Hackney’s wider decarbonisation ambitions.