Hackney Council replaces Keith Miller pitch with smaller AstroTurf for 400 new homes
The 18-month closure will deliver 300 council homes for social rent but reduce the free pitch by 185 square metres
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Sources named with roles, council figures quoted, specific 185 sq m reduction and 18‑month timeline provided.
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Explains housing shortage impact, includes quotes from users and council, gives next steps with temporary pitch.
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Hackney Council will replace the Keith Miller sports pitch in Hackney with a smaller AstroTurf surface as part of a scheme to deliver 400 new homes. The closure will last 18 months, during which the free pitch will shrink by 185 square metres. The council confirmed 75% of the new homes will be for social rent, as reported by the BBC.
The pitch, nicknamed the "San Siro of east London" by photographer Tara Darby, has hosted monthly children’s football tournaments run by Michael Johnstone. Johnstone told the BBC he fears the smaller replacement pitch and new housing could lead to more noise complaints. The council said it would add seating and recreational space to the site.
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Children describe pitch as a safe space for friendship
Children who use the pitch told the BBC it was a place to make friends and develop a love for football. One boy said, "I kind of grew up here. This is how I started enjoying football." Another child added, "It helps people to make friends and also have fun with each other." A third child said, "I get that more people need homes, but if it’s something this special, I think you just can’t take it away."
It’s got these incredible acoustics and it feels like this very private space. For a lot of the young people that use it, it might as well be a stadium of 80,000 people, because here you get to dream.
Tara Darby, photographer and film-maker
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Council promises temporary pitch during construction
Hackney Council said it would work with a nearby school to provide a temporary pitch while construction takes place. A council spokesperson said, "We know the existing Keith Miller sports pitch is an important community asset for local young people, which is why we are re-providing an improved AstroTurf pitch as part of our plans." The spokesperson added that youth football sessions run by Arsenal and Wickers would continue during the closure.
The council’s New Homes Programme aims to deliver over 400 homes, with 300 allocated for social rent. The spokesperson said the project would include added recreational space and seating, though the pitch itself would be smaller. No start date for the closure has been confirmed.
What happens next
Hackney Council has not announced when the 18-month closure will begin. Residents and users of the pitch will be notified of the temporary arrangements once a start date is set. The council has not specified whether there will be a public consultation on the replacement pitch’s design or location.
Questions this report answers
+How long will the Keith Miller pitch be closed?
The pitch will close for 18 months while Hackney Council builds 400 new homes on the site. The council has not yet announced a start date for the closure, as reported by the BBC.
+How many new homes will be built on the site?
Hackney Council plans to deliver 400 new homes, with 300 of them designated for social rent. The project is part of the council’s New Homes Programme, according to the BBC.
+Will children still have a place to play football during the closure?
Yes. Hackney Council said it would provide a temporary pitch at a nearby school while construction takes place. Youth football sessions run by Arsenal and Wickers will continue during the 18-month closure.
+Why is the replacement pitch smaller?
The new AstroTurf pitch will be 185 square metres smaller than the existing free pitch to accommodate the housing development. The council said it would add seating and recreational space to the site, as reported by the BBC.
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