HAZEL Blears couldn’t wait to see the legacy’ East London gets from the 2012 Olympics—even though the Games are still three years off. The Local Government Secretary saw at first hand projects taking shape in the fringe’ zone around the Olympics Park now under construction when she paid a flying visit
HAZEL Blears couldn’t wait to see the legacy’ East London gets from the 2012 Olympics—even though the Games are still three years off.
The Local Government Secretary of State saw at first hand the projects taking shape in the fringe’ zone bordering the Olympics Park now under construction when she paid a flying visit on Tuesday.
She came to see the regeneration schemes by the London Thames Gateway Development corporation which include 7,000 new homes and thousands of jobs promised immediately after the Olympics.
ICON STADIUM
The biggest icon now taking shape on the East London skyline is the Olympics stadium itself, with the distinctive terraces beginning to emerge, that she saw (pictured) from a new marketing suite on the 16th floor at Taylor Place in Bromley-by-Bow.
The stadium becomes a huge sports and athletics venue for East London, while the Olympics Village becomes Europe’s most prestigious public housing development after 2012 and the international media centre at Hackney Wick becomes a major state-of-the-art business complex.
“We have to ensure there is a lasting legacy which helps regenerate this part of London,” the Minister said.
“The 2012 Olympics isn’t just about hosting a world class sporting event.”
PARKLAND
Hazel Blears’ tour included Bromley-by-Bow around Sugar House Lane where Thames Gateway is buying up land for regeneration, Hackney Wick and Old Ford which are being included in the Olympics benefits’ Master Plan, Three Mills Island now being transformed into major parkland along the Lea River down to the Thames, and Stratford itself where the town centre is being revamped.
The Minister also visited a new housing scheme under way at Leven Road in Poplar, on the banks of the Lea, which includes 66 low-rent and shared ownership properties and 21 studios for East End artists.
Public and private investment is set to create 40,000 new homes and 28,000 jobs in total in East London by 2016.
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