Developing the Olympics - the starting line

The Starting Line for London 2012

Many areas of London have undergone significant change over the last decade, but arguably, none have changed more, or faster, than Stratford. The characteristics of the Olympic Zone meant there was huge potential for the Olympics to leave a lasting legacy in East London.

David Higgins, Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive, said on appointment, "Our challenge is to successfully manage both the requirements of the games and the long-term regeneration of East London.

Achieving both of these will bring fantastic opportunities for the whole of the UK."

Over 15 years since the Olympics Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) and 10 years since the 2012 opening ceremony in London, the area is still developing with widespread regeneration taking place to create new communities of homes, businesses and leisure spaces.  

Gary Powis, our Development Consultancy Director, was involved in the Olympics from the outset and comments: “Strettons' recent history is deeply interlinked with the redevelopment of Stratford and the surrounding areas. As London Development Agency led the compulsory purchase of the land to develop the stadium and other venues, we worked closely with clients within the Olympic zone.

“As the CPO progressed, we became involved in consulting on schemes around the site, as we are today. We continue to work with our clients to deliver exciting projects which are creating much needed new homes in East London, along with innovative commercial, retail and cultural spaces.”

Since the CPO came into effect in west Stratford, making it possible for the London Development Agency to undertake the necessary work to create the site for London's 2012 Olympic Games, the Olympic Zone has become one of the largest regeneration CPOs in Europe.

There is a common misconception that west Stratford was a wasteland before the Olympics. However, before the CPO, Stratford was a thriving industrial area centred around Marshgate Lane with over 300 large and small businesses. Stratford has been a preferred location for many years and recent and planned infrastructure improvements had enhanced demand and prices over the years leading up to the CPO.

Gary adds: “Strettons was actively involved in helping many of those companies affected by the CPO. We acted on behalf of occupiers and owners in the Olympic zone who held circa 1 million sq ft, or 40%, of the total floor space to be acquired. Many of these businesses were relocated and we dealt with compensation claims resulting from this disruption, helping the businesses keep steady through the transition and make the most of their deals.”

A further misconception is that the development of Stratford was publicly funded and that it was one development site focused on delivering the best games in Olympic history. However, there were two regeneration areas: Stratford Rail Lands and Stratford West Industrial Area. Plans for developing Stratford Rail Lands (former International Rail Terminal) gained outline planning permission in 2003 before London was selected to host the 2012 Olympic Games in 2005.

The work was to be privately funded by LendLease and London and Continental Railways, and is now Stratford City, including Westfield Shopping Centre and the International Quarter. The development of Stratford West Industrial Area was publicly funded and subject to the CPO and became the site for the London 2012 Olympics.

Throughout the development process, the various agencies involved in the delivery of the games followed a 2+4+1 plan. Geoff Fisher, a former consultant of ours who worked on the Olympic site from the start said that “was the strapline for providing the Olympics.”

Geoff comments: “This stood for two years to acquire all the land, four years to clear it, clean it and build the facilities, and one year to have practice grounds to make sure of refinement of operations and people. This last year’s provision was key to successful games.”

Construction on the Olympic Stadium, now home to West Ham United Football Club, actually started in May 2008, three months earlier than planned as the site of the Lower Lea Valley was finished ahead of schedule.

In our view, the delivery of the Olympic Park was a success, and the Games were a moment that the UK can be proud of. The legacy provided by the Games has been hugely significant and had a direct impact on East London and the UK. Economic growth has exceeded pre-games projects three-fold and there has been an almost 40% growth in local employment.

We are proud to have been involved from the start and of the work we have done to support our clients, both during the compulsory purchase phase and now, as we work to deliver some of East London’s most exciting schemes.