Photo: Susana Garcia

Residents of Hackney are being asked to nominate their favorite buildings for local listing, as part of a project that helps protect and preserve them for the future.

All the buildings nominated as part of the ‘Love Local Landmarks’ scheme will be considered by Hackney Council for inclusion on the borough’s Local List.

Local listing not only lets people know which buildings are of value to an area, but gives them a special status, which is taken into account by the council’s planning officers when making decisions affecting their future.

The ‘Love Local Landmarks’ project, part-funded by English Heritage and Discover Hackney, is being co-ordinated by the Hackney Society in partnership with Hackney Council.

Features like an artwork or monument can also be entered, but nominations must be of historical or architectural interest. Environmental significance or aesthetic or artistic merit will also be considered.

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Hackney has many well-designed and eye-catching buildings. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the rich mix of architecture in the borough and also ensure that buildings of interest are protected for future generations.”

There are around 1300 listed buildings in Hackney, selected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sports. The list has not been reviewed since 1991 and as yet does not include many of Hackney’s significant 20th-century buildings.