The catalyst for the development of Dalston Square was the planned opening of the new East London Line station for 2010. The GLA group (including the London Development Agency and Transport for London) and the London Borough of Hackney seized the opportunity to create new development and a new public square at Dalston Junction. Dalston Junction station is now open and Phase 1 of the development is open and inhabited. The scheme will be completed in 2012.

The Dalston Square development provides a new civic centre at Dalston Junction, which is currently dominated by two major roads, Kingsland Road and Dalston Lane. The project involved decking over existing railway lines and creating a new square and transport interchange, more than 500 new homes, shops and restaurants and a new public library and archive. The London Development Agency has worked closely with the landowners - the London Borough of Hackney and Transport for London - to agree the development strategy, and chose Barratt Homes as the development partner.

Design for London has been involved from the outset, from the selection of the design teams and development partner to help preparing the planning application. We also set up and managed a design coordination group to ensure various designs are complementary and to help steer implementation of the proposals.

John McAslan and Partners are designing the buildings at Dalston Junction and Arup Associates with Goddard Manton are working at Dalston Lane South. Weston Williamson is working on the buildings and transport infrastructure related to the East London Line station. Michel Desvigne and J & L Gibbons are the landscape designers.