Hassidic Jews ‘moving out of Hackney because of stance on loft extensions’

‘People are moving out’: Cllr Simche Steinberger

Hassidic Jews from Stamford Hill are moving over the border into Haringey because Hackney Council is ‘too tough’ on loft extensions, a councillor has claimed.

Conservative councillor Simche Steinberger called on the Town Hall to take a more lenient stance towards applications made by residents wanting to extend their homes to accommodate growing families.

Cllr Steinberger said: “60 per cent of those running away from Hackney are going to Haringey, because Haringey understands the problems and Hackney doesn’t understand the problems. People are leaving Hackney because of this.”

He said the issue was raised at a meeting of a new all-party parliamentary group on Jewish affairs attended by Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy last week.

Cllr Steinberger said: “This is not political. I applaud what the Labour Party has done in Haringey.”

A Hackney Council spokesperson said:” The council takes a reasonable response to all applications to extend residential properties, which takes into account the needs of residents, the effect of proposed extensions on the amenities of neighbours, the environmental quality, character and heritage of the local area, as well as the reasonable needs of applicants, to reach balanced decisions.

“The council has an adopted Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on residential extensions and alterations, which is used to assess all planning applications submitted.”