A former council administrative building left unused for years is being converted into a health and fitness centre.

Christopher Addison House in Hackney Central, empty for approximately six years, will be transformed into a gym and exercise studio under Hackney Council’s strategy to find new purposes for disused properties for the benefit of local residents.

The fitness facility will operate while Kings Hall Leisure Centre is closed for extensive renovation work.

Zoë Garbett, Mayor of Hackney, stated that the aim is to return the borough to its communities, addressing the rise in gentrification and widening income gaps seen in recent years. This interim gym will be reasonably priced, easy to reach, and welcoming to all, demonstrating the council’s values and broader plans to examine Who Owns Hackney to redevelop spaces for public use.

Spread across three levels, the venue will feature free weights, strength and cardio machines, and specific rooms for group workout sessions.

This is the inaugural property being restored to active use through the Mayor’s Who Owns Hackney initiative, which seeks to recover spaces for Hackney residents. The gym will assist with the lack of recreational facilities in the neighbourhood and will continue operating throughout the Kings Hall renovation.

Charges will match those at other council-run leisure centres, with reductions reaching 50 percent for eligible users, sessions designed for people aged 50 and above, and programmes accessible through the Healthier Together Hackney weight management referral system.

The venue will be run by the council’s leisure associate, Better, with a scheduled opening in early August.

Who Owns Hackney represents a fresh inquiry initiated by the Mayor into land usage and ownership.

The inquiry encompasses a comprehensive review of how land is being used, ways to restore empty premises to productive use, and an assessment of how council-owned structures could be opened up more for charitable groups and local organisations.

Mayor Garbett has additionally instructed council staff to evaluate employing compulsory purchase powers and community purchase rights as part of efforts to recover public spaces for community benefit.