Luxury fashion brands are set to open new stores in May at a fashion hub being built in 12 reclaimed railway arches in central Hackney.

The concept was conceived in 2011 following the London riots, when the Mayor’s Regeneration Fund invested £2million into Hackney as part of a plan to regenerate the worst affected parts of the capital.

While Hackney Council spent some of the money revamping shop fronts in the area, £1.5m was poured into the fashion hub project, along with £3.3m funding from Network Rail which owns the arches.

A developer, Hackney Walk Holdings, was given the right to run the project.

Last week a topping-out ceremony saw Jack Basrawy, executive chairman and founder of Hackney Walk, Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe, Sir Edward Lister, Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning, and Digby Nicklin, director of commercial estate at Network Rail, sign their names on a huge piece of art in front of more than 100 people.

The fashion hub will be discussed with the council’s regeneration team and developers at the Hackney Central ward forum meeting at the Pembury Community Centre, in Dalston Lane, on Monday at 7pm.