East[1]

LONDON’S HOTSPOT: EAST LONDON ISSUE ONE_2011

NEW
HORIZON
London’s eastward growth gathers pace

Developments Financial and business services Clean technology www.eastmagazine.net

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issue one_2011
13

39

20
bigger picture 04 projects map 26 round table 43
The present – and future – panorama of What’s happening and whereabouts in Six leading businessmen share their vision
the Lower Lea Valley, with east London’s London’s hotspot: east London and discuss their assessment of east
transformation firmly under way London’s opportunities with LTGDC’s head
projects 29 of economic development
introduction 07 An update on some of the area’s major
London’s major regeneration is heading one development schemes markets 48
way: east. While the Olympics are a catalyst, Facts and figures in brief – a snapshot of
the seeds of growth were sown long ago key player 36 some of the east London’s vital statistics
London Thames Gateway Development
financial and Corporation’s chief executive, Peter Andrews, education and skills 51
professional services 13 sets out his view of the progress and The economy of east London has changed,
Canary Wharf challenged the City’s potential of the Lower Lea Valley requiring residents to have different skills to
dominance of the UK financial sector. This compete in the new industry sectors
industry is greater than banking, with huge transport 39
significance, benefiting the economy of east From its own airport to the Jubilee and East contacts 54
London and the UK as a whole London lines and Docklands Light Railway, For contacts and feedback visit
east London is already well connected. www.eastmagazine.net
sustainability 20 Crossrail will bring even greater
Initiatives to reduce carbon and offset transport links along with
climate change also make economic economic opportunities
sense for east London

36 Peter Andrews: LTGDC chief executive

www.eastmagazine.net 0

A glimpse of the future:
the Olympic Park is an
important driver in the
regeneration of east
London but already,
transport and new
developments have begun
the transformation of
London’s hotspot.

0 spring 2011

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London’s development
can only go one way –
east – where the large
sites are available
and where the need
for economic renewal
is acute. While the
Olympics in 2012 are
an important catalyst,
Kate Turner ﬁnds
that seeds of change
have been sown over
the past few decades
continued overleaf ➳

H
ABOVE: King George V
dry dock in 1919, now
the site of London
City Airport.
ABOVE RIGHT: The
DLR links with the
underground, overground
and the airport.
CENTRE: The O2 is the
world’s most popular
music venue.

08 spring 2011

➳

ABOVE: Aerial views of
the Olympic Park site.
RIGHT: The docks before
Docklands, looking east
to the Isle of Dogs.


New university hub for Stratford
In autumn 2013 a new university building
will open in the centre of Stratford, a joint
collaboration between Birkbeck, University
of London, and the University of East London,
two complementary and well established
higher education institutions. This new
education hub will encourage access and
progression into higher education for people
living and working in east London, supporting
its economic regeneration.

The building, designed for flexible occupancy,
will provide facilities for full-and part-time, day
and evening study opportunities. Making the new
university centre available to local community,
business and arts groups, as well as other
partners, supports the ongoing development
of the area beyond the 2012 Olympics.
www.bbk.ac.uk/stratford

➳


The Granary
Creative Industries Quarter, Abbey Road , Barking

The Rooff Group are pleased to announce the pur-
chase of the Granary Building in Abbey Road,
Barking from the London Thames Gateway
Development Corporation.
The refurbishment of this locally historic industrial
building will form part of the first phase of the
longer term regeneration objectives for the Abbey
Road area. LTGDC brought forward a comprehen-
sive redevelopment planning consent for Creative
Industries uses, mixed use development and resi-
dential accommodation.

Rooff Development Director Steve Drury adds. We are
really pleased to be associated with the start of the
regeneration of the Abbey Road / Roding Riverside
area and believe that with our anchoring of the first
phase, we can help deliver sustainable future business
and job opportunities in the area.

The Granary building will form a new destination point
on the river, for business users and general public
alike, which links back to the Boroughs historic fishing
and Malting heritage.

Rooff have already commenced work on site, which
will feature the total refurbishment of the Granary
building, incorporating a new riverside café and ter-
race and the construction of a new contemporary
designed extension. Completion is due in Summer
2011.The refurbished and new accommodation will
be part occupied by Rooff, with approximately 10 -
15,000sqft available for Creative Industry and B1
Commercial users.

Glenny have been appointed to market the com-
mercial space. (www.glenny.co.uk) Relocation to
the Granary will enable Rooff to develop regenera-
tion plans for its 3 acre site in Stratford, immediate-
ly adjacent to the London 2012 Olympics Site.

Rooff Limited - Rooff House
Cooks Road London E15 2PN Cert. No:
T: 020 8534 9797
F: 020 8534 0789 FS54902
www.rooff.co.uk

➳


UK FINANCIAL SECTOR NET EXPORTS I UK SECTOR’
FINANCIAL SERVICES TRADE BALANCEI TRADE BALANCESI

Financial services

Other business services

Professional services

Travel

Goods

14 spring 2011

service sectors. He points to past recessions, which tended prospects. He says: “We have permissions in place, both in
to stimulate mergers and acquisitions, creating the big the London Plan and the Thames Gateway Development
companies that need large floorplate offices. One very recent Prospectus, to suggest that Canary Wharf will double in size
example is US investment bank Bear Stearns, due to take over the next 10 to 15 years.”
space at Canary Wharf before it became a casualty of the He’s not alone in this prediction: Oxford Economics
financial crisis and was taken over by JP Morgan, now lined estimates that Canary Wharf itself can generate 50,000 jobs
up to take the estate’s planned Riverside South skyscraper by 2020 and that neighbouring Wood Wharf (see box) will
(see box) and the former Lehman Brothers building. create a further 25,000 by 2030, most of which will be in
Canary Wharf is home to many large floorplate buildings, the financial and business services.
with room for plenty more. This is in contrast to the City of The area does have a unique set of advantages. As well
London, with its long-established ownership patterns and as its room for expansion, it also has a single owner, CWG,
tighter planning regulations, making such schemes harder which can forward plan and tailor its developments to meet
to build. Canary Wharf Group’s (CWG) head of strategy, the requirements of prospective occupiers, such as KPMG
Howard Dawber, says: “There are very few sites where you (see box). What’s more, thanks to its modern infrastructure,
can build a million square foot office building in London.” Docklands can offer guaranteed power provision, an
Dawber is confident about the area’s future growth important lure for financial service firms with their large
and energy hungry trading rooms.
Docklands has benefited from billions of pounds worth
of transport investment, of which the most notable have
“There are very few sites where been the Jubilee Line extension and the Docklands Light

you can build a million square Railway. With new transport links like the East London Line
extension and the planned Crossrail, Docklands will be able
foot office building in London. to draw on a still wider pool of labour from across London
We have permissions in place ... and the broader southeast region.
Not to mention the neighbourhoods on Canary Wharf ’s
to suggest that Canary Wharf East End doorstep, whose “fundamentally entrepreneurial”
will double in size over the next communities are increasingly engaging with the
opportunities that Docklands has to offer, says Dawber.
10 to 15 years” Docklands’ locational advantages have already attracted ➳

UK financial servicesi financial andi
trade sUrplUsi bUsiness sectorsi
of UK exports

of UK exports
25%
10%

1990 2010
(figures from ONS)


A Fantastic New Town Centre
for Canning Town
Bouygues Development is creating a new beating Anchor food store, circa 7,300sqm
heart for Canning Town for it to become a physical, 15,000 sqm retail for independent retailers,
social and economic transformational catalyst for local and regional operators
the area. The masterplan re-establishes Canning Cinema
Town as a vibrant mixed use centre, re-connected Restaurants and bars
to the existing surrounding commercial areas. 200 bedroom hotel
Health Centre
It creates a genuine sense of place, with an iden- Commercial office space
tity that is lacking within the current fabric of Can- Student accommodation
ning Town. Massing and density have been bal- 1,100 private for sale residential units
anced with high quality, inspiring public realm to 50 Extra Care Units
provide a rich tapestry of uses, sympathetic to all. 1,100 car park spaces

www.by-development.co.uk

UK PROFESSIONAL SERVICESI
TRADE BALANCESI
Wood Wharf
The seven-hectare Wood Wharf site is currently
Management consultancy a mix of warehouses, light industrial units and
derelict land. But under a masterplan for the
site drawn up by architect Rogers Stirk Harbour,
the area will be transformed into a mixed-
use development, creating a bridge between
the commercial Canary Wharf and the mainly
Legal services residential neighbourhoods of the East End.
Six buildings will provide approximately
454,000sq m office space, generating up to
25,000 jobs – it is estimated that a fifth will be
taken by local people. Six more will house 1,668
homes – 35% of which will be affordable.
Accounting services
The scheme includes a community park, the
first major area of public space for the Isle of
Dogs in decades. The scheme will also open
up formerly inaccessible waterside areas for
public use with new boardwalks and waterfront
parklands, while preserving and enhancing the
historic docks. The public spaces were developed
by Rogers with internationally renowned US
landscape designer Martha Schwarz.
The development features a district cooling
system using surrounding dock water.
Wood Wharf is a partnership between the
developers Canary Wharf Group, Ballymore and
British Waterways. It will be delivered in four
phases. The masterplan, one of the biggest
applications ever to be lodged in Western Europe,
has received outline planning consent.

➳


100,000
docKlands
employees

7,000
JP Morgan
International banking giant JP Morgan, at the
end of 2010, announced several London property
investments, including acquisition of 25 Bank
Early Street, Canary Wharf, the former HQ of Lehman
1990s Brothers. In 2012 this will become the new
European headquarters of its investment bank.
JP Morgan will also continue to work with
the Canary Wharf Group in order to develop the

2010 Riverside South site, the next major phase of
Canary Wharf, described as Europe’s largest
planned single office development. The Rogers
Stirk Harbour designed scheme features a 45-
UK financial storey tower, making it (by one metre) Docklands’
tallest building at 241m.
sector net London’s Mayor Boris Johnson said: “This
exports reflects confidence in the capital. JP Morgan’s
commitment to London will help ensure
the capital retains its position as a banking
£50.6bn

powerhouse, which drives the UK economy and
£41.8bn

attracts the financial world’s brightest stars.”
£20bn

(down 17%
on 2008)

KPMG
2005 2008 2009 KPMG now occupies its new office at 15 Canada
Square on the main Canary Wharf estate, opened
(figures from ONS)
by the Queen in November 2010.
While 1,500 staff remain at the company’s
HQ in the City of London, 4,000 of its London
staff moved to the new 400,000sq ft Docklands
as “the most popular concert venue in the world”; the new office, the biggest move by one of the so-called
convention facility at ExCeL London, and City Airport. Most Big Four accountants to the area.
UK cities would surely give their eye teeth for just one of Canary Wharf Group head of strategy, Howard
these facilities. Dawber, says the attraction is clear. “KPMG
Set against the offer that Canary Wharf provides to came here because they’ve got a lot of clients.”
high-flying firms, Sunny Crouch, a former director of the In addition, KPMG has been able to customise
London Docklands Development Corporation, believes its new building. With 2,600 desks, ‘hot
that the wider Lower Lea Valley gives scope to cater for desking’ will be the norm for staff who will be
back office functions for medium-sized firms that are not expected to plug in their laptops after booking
currently accommodated in Docklands. For those needing a work station at the reception. The desk ratio
start-up space or more than 100,000sq ft of office space, of one desk to 1.4 staff allows more space for
Canary Wharf is handsomely endowed. But there is a gap in facilities like meeting and project rooms as well
provision for firms in the middle. as a business lounge for clients. The 15 floors
Crouch says: “They find that when they need to move they are grouped into sets of three with break out
don’t have somewhere to go in the area. The future business areas in the middle.
health of the area clearly points to the need for more Mike Blake, head of infrastructure, says: “We
medium-sized space.” wanted to attract and retain the best employees,
Whatever happens, it would be very unwise to bet against who would bring in the big business.”
the continuing growth of either London Docklands or its
financial and business sector over the next 25 years.

18 spring 2011

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UniqUe environmental initiatives Under way in the former indUstrial heart
of london are leading the charge towards the UK’s carbon redUction
targets – and the renaissance of the area’s economy, writes Sarah herbert

20 spring 2011

T
he legacy of this area’s Lower Lea Valley. Stretching from the
past as a provider of Olympic Park in the north to the ExCeL
power generation and centre in the east, the Lower Lee Valley
waste processing is is the largest regeneration opportunity
being transformed in inner London, with capacity
to create a new for 50,000 homes, and associated
east London, one that leads the field amenities. It is a huge opportunity
in the development of sustainable to demonstrate how to transform a
infrastructure and attracts innovative previously industrial and underused
clean tech businesses to locate here. area into a thriving hub where people
Through the Climate Change Act can lead healthy, low-carbon lifestyles.
(2008), the UK has set a legally binding The aim is to create an examplar
target to reduce UK carbon emissions by community where advances in
80% (of 1990 levels) by 2050. This will information technology will enable
mean radical new approaches to the way residents and businesses to use
we generate and supply energy, as well as resources more efficiently, by managing
how we manage its demand. utility demands and supply in real time.
Such radical rethinking creates Ultimately the aim is to have district
opportunities. As London Mayor Boris heating networks, combined heat
Johnson said: “A century ago, we were and power plants, a waste-to-energy
cashing in on carbon, yet now there are plant, zero carbon dwellings (including
clear economic opportunities coming refurbished existing houses), smart
from getting rid of it. I want London metering, green roofing, wind turbines,
to be ahead of the queue, grasping a community recycling, fuel cell buses and
significant share of the jobs and economic electric car charging points, sustainable
booty arising from this new generation of drainage and rainwater harvesting.
low carbon goods and services.” As Ian Short, chief executive of the
At the heart of London’s aim to reduce Institute for Sustainability (which ➳
carbon emissions is the Sustainable
Utilities Infrastructure project in the


is behind the scheme), says: “It’s all about
integrating low carbon resources – heat,
power, water and telecoms – both existing
and planned, and putting them together.
“As well as doing our bit to reduce carbon
emissions we’re also using the project
to drive investment for the community,
resulting in reduced energy, better
environment and a better quality of life. This
in turn will attract investment and people to in turn the
growing of
live and work in the area.
“The first phase – assessing what’s Anaerobic food is possible
with water and
there, what’s planned and therefore what’s
required – is complete. The second phase is
Digestion heat from the
plant...
now focusing on specific projects.” Facility
These projects include extending the
Olympic Park district heating network,
undertaking a retrofit programme to and helps
bring existing buildings up to low-carbon reclaim land
standards and creating new community Waste from after years of
retailers, contamination...
district heating networks. An Ofgem pilot
restaurants
demonstration already under way focuses and caterers fertiliser
on the Lower Lea Valley to help create a converts to... produced at
the plant that
saves the
by the Mayor’s import of vital element of reducing
“... we’re also using Office to help
the city become a global low-carbon
topsoil... carbon emissions. Leading
the way towards a solution is
the project to drive leader by using undeveloped industrial one of the newest occupiers of
investment for the land to attract up to £140 billion of
investment and create 6,000 jobs. The aim
the park – Thames Gateway Power,
owned by Cyclamax, a gasification plant
community, resulting in is to populate the area with organisations which secured planning permission in July
reduced energy, a better leading the field in the low-carbon sector,
specialising in waste management, recovery
2010. Gasification converts residual waste
materials from local businesses into a gas
environment and a and recycling, renewable energy, and called syngas. It has a lower carbon emission
better quality of life” emerging low carbon technology companies.
Ahead of the curve is the London Thames
than natural gas but can be used in the
same way to drive gas turbines and produce
Gateway Development Corporation’s heat and power. This facility will remove
(LTGDC) London Sustainable Industries 120,000 tonnes of locally generated waste a
‘smart grid’. This is a reconfiguration of Park (SIP) in Dagenham, the home of year from landfill producing around 16 Mw
the electricity grid to enable it both to take cutting edge sustainable technologies, from of energy, enough to power 31,500 homes,
intermittent demand and supply, such as recycling and renewable energy generation which represents 45% of the households in
that generated by renewable energy, and to the manufacture of sustainable Barking and Dagenham.
to take power in, either from individual construction materials and research and Cyclamax and other businesses moving to
households’ microgeneration from development. This business park provides the London SIP will ultimately create over
photovoltaics or wind turbines. a destination where forward thinking, 1,000 new jobs across a broad range of skills
The grid needs to cope with the increasing clean technology companies can exploit meeting the aspirations of local people as
use of residential smart sensors that enable an emerging recyclates supply chain in the well as attracting new people to the area.
electricity to be used at the cheapest time Thames Gateway. As Mark Bradbury, deputy director of
– difficult for the current infrastructure London SIP is located on 25-hectares of development at LTGDC, says: “The Thames
– and with increased demand from such land between Ford’s advanced diesel engine Gateway Power facility brings the green
devices as electric cars and, ironically, the plant and Barking Riverside, and is a spark to the Sustainable Industries Park,
sensors themselves. According to Short, “It’s £60 million investment by LTGDC, allowing other tenants to use renewable
the most advanced project of its kind being which will see new road and services and low carbon heat and power for their
undertaken in the UK.” infrastructure, together with a package of offices, workshops and factories, and reduce
The initiative fits right into the Green improvements to the public realm, including reliance on traditional fuels.”
Enterprise District, a six-borough wide, sustainable urban drainage, tree planting One such company is Closed Loop, the
48km sq, area of land, from Waltham Forest and new cycle routes linking to Dagenham UK’s only food-grade plastics recycler, which
in the north to Tower Hamlets in the south Dock Station. opened on the London SIP in June 2008.
and Havering in the east. It is designated Better waste management will form a By recycling plastic milk and mineral water

22 spring 2011

RIGHT: The London
Sustainable Industries
Park at night.
BELOW: London SIP
in daylight.

➳


“Our aim is to create
an attractive focal
point that celebrates
Siemens
London’s ambition Pavilion
and leadership in
green technologies
and sustainability”

Both a showcase for cutting Andreas J Goss, commented:
edge sustainable design, and “Our aim is to create
Another pleasing bit of synergy is that an iconic building in its own an attractive focal point
most of the food waste coming to the right, the £30 million Siemens that celebrates London’s
anaerobic digestion facility comes from Pavilion will put the Royal ambition and leadership
retailers, restaurants and caterers, and is Docks well and truly on the in green technologies and
often still packaged. And who can recycle map when it opens in 2012. sustainability. Siemens is
that packaging? Closed Loop. Granted consent by Newham at the heart of providing
It doesn’t end there. Across the road Council in September 2010, sustainable solutions, from
at Barking Riverside up to 10,800 new it will be one of the flagship renewable energy to low-
homes will be constructed over a period developments of the east carbon transport and urban
of 20 years. The land – contaminated by London Green Enterprise infrastructure. I hope the
years of industrial use – can be greatly District. The electronics giant Siemens Pavilion will act as a
improved by using the fertiliser produced by estimates that it will attract catalyst for wider community
the anaerobic digestion plant, rather than 100,000 visitors a year to the involvement in the debate
shipping in tonnes of topsoil. In the part new facility, which it hopes about how we will best address
of the development site last to be built on, will inspire a new generation of the challenge of climate
this fertiliser could help to grow food, too, youngsters to carve out careers change in our cities.”
in green industries. Sir Robin Wales, mayor
with water for irrigation and heat from the
It is also designed to attract of Newham, added: “It will
anaerobic digester and gasification plants.
other technology companies position Newham as a leader
Even further in the future, as another
and green industries to form of the low carbon economy
byproduct of gasification is hydrogen, TOP: Changing view at
dusk to the Siemens a research cluster in the and will also help attract
there are plans afoot to install a hydrogen
Pavilion, Royal Docks, Royal Docks, capitalising on other high profile companies
filling station for fuel cell cars, buses and due to open in 2012. recent investment in advanced into the Royal Docks, which
commercial vehicles, the next big thing in ABOVE: Daytime
panorama of Siemens high-speed communication has obvious implications for
green transport. Pavilion; and close up of infrastructure. increased employment and
As Mark Bradbury says: “This kind of the iconic architecture.
The long-term goal is training opportunities.
innovation is just what the Green Enterprise
to transform this part of “The commitment by
District wants to achieve. It’s a landmark Docklands, which contains Siemens will prove an
scheme. And it’s typical of LTGDC – we 12km of waterfront, into unbelievable catalyst
pride ourselves on spotting a great idea and a world class location for for further high-value,
just getting things done. business headquarters, high-quality, job-creating
“This park’s infrastructure will require alongside research and investment. New high-skilled
some subsidy because we are going beyond manufacturing facilities. jobs in the burgeoning sectors
what the market usually provides, although The 7,000sq m building of environmental and life
occupiers are still paying market value for will contain a 2,760sq m science technologies will be
their site. Our aim is to provide a test bed, exhibition hall, with an fundamental to that agenda.
so anyone replicating the model can learn education facility and a “Other high profile
from our successes. dockside café, a 1,400sq m businesses with green
“The park has a much higher level of conference suite containing credentials will never have
landscaping than usual for an industrial a 300-seat auditorium and a better opportunity to invest
development, and we believe this will drive 2,000sq m of office space, for in the main host borough of
up land values, and attract a wide range of 230 Siemens staff. the London 2012 Olympic
employees. We are currently in discussion Siemens chief executive, and Paralympic Games.”
with around 40 businesses, all keen to get
onto the development.”

24 spring 2011

The 2012 Games is accelerating the regeneration of east
London by decades and the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park is at the centre of this area of growth and investment.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will bring This area will capture the imagination of
together the best of London, all in one place. domestic and international visitors with its
At its core will be the creation of family- varied programme of cultural, sporting and
focused neighbourhoods; making the Park community events and attractions.
a top visitor destination, developed around
sport, active recreation and the creation of Open space and vibrant waterways
commercial and job opportunities. The north of the Park will be centred on a river
valley, waterways, parkland and green space,
Homes inspired by the best of London’s heritage offering outdoor activities including play areas,
Over the next 25 years, five neighbourhoods, cycle paths and access to the road circuits and
with much-needed family homes will develop. off-road trails of the Lee Valley Velopark.
These new communities will include up to
11,000 new homes, based around a network Communities that work and grow
of schools, nurseries, health, faith and The Park will also offer business and job
community facilities. opportunities, providing thousands of new
jobs, potentially in the 90,000m2 campus
London’s new global attraction style business hub in and around the Press and
The Park will have two very distinct characters Broadcast Centres in the north west of the Park.
– a vibrant and buzzing urban entertainment
To find out more about our
plaza in the south, anchored by the Stadium, The Olympic Park Legacy Company is
future plans please visit Aquatics Centre and ArcelorMittal Orbit; responsible for delivering this new exciting
www.legacycompany.co.uk sitting next to Europe’s largest urban shopping piece of city and is leading the planning,
or contact us at centre, Westfield Stratford City, and Stratford development and management of the Park
info@legacycompany.co.uk station with its nine train and tube lines. over the next 25 years.

Stratford’S extraordinary
development will See one
of the largeSt mixed-uSe
expanSionS in the uK, with
the creation of a new urban
parK, a £4 billion Shopping
centre, a new commercial
diStrict with landmarK
towerS and modern leiSure
facilitieS, and new urban
diStrictS for tenS of
thouSandS of new reSidentS
and worKerS ➳

26 spring 2011

Stratford
Stratford City Olympic Park Town Centre
page page page
29 30 31

Hackney Wick
Canning Town Lea River Park Fish Island
page page page
32 33 33

Bromley by Bow Sugar House Lane Poplar Riverside
page page page
34 34 34


w

Next to the Olympic site, Stratford City is Marks Spencer – linked by a 24-hour
the largest retail-led, mixed-use urban ‘lifestyle street’ – plus another 300 fashion,
regeneration project ever undertaken in lifestyle and food units, all attracting a
the UK, and will act as a catalyst for the catchment audience of 4.1 million people.
regeneration of the whole of east London The retail centre alone will create more
over the next 15 years. than 25,000 construction jobs throughout
Covering 73 hectares of previously largely the project, peaking at 4,500 workers on
derelict land, the new metropolitan centre site at one time. Altogether, Stratford City
will comprise 269,000sq m of retail and will create 24,000 jobs by 2015.
leisure space, 121,000sq m of hotel space, The highly sustainable scheme is
613,000sq m of commercial district space, subject to some of the UK’s most stringent
16,400 new homes, and 17,000sq m of sustainability standards, with 75% of its
community facilities. power coming from a dedicated, highly
The first phase – to be completed in efficient, combined heat and power plant.
2011 – will see 175,000sq m of retail, The European Commission has approved
leisure and entertainment facilities, a joint venture to deliver a major business
with 35,000sq m of hotel space, 1,224 district next to the London Olympics site.
apartments and a 12-screen Vue cinema. Stratford City developer Lend Lease, with TOP: John Lewis at
plus 106,000sq m office space in a landowner London Continental Railways, one end of Westfield
Stratford – Marks
cluster. This phase includes four tall office will set up a 50/50 joint venture, Stratford Spencer at the other.
buildings: Stratford Place, The Square, City Business District. Dan Labbad, Lend ABOVE: New office
First Avenue and Station Square. Lease Europe, Middle East and Africa chief block at Stratford Place.
BOTTOM: Light-filled
Europe’s largest urban shopping centre, executive, said: “This sets the pathway for internal retail mall.
Westfield Stratford City, will include establishing London’s most significant new
flagship anchor stores John Lewis and business district since Canary Wharf.”

➳

and officials during the Olympic and Olympic Village development, forming
Paralympic Games. Afterwards it will a key link between Leyton and
become essential new housing, with Hackney Wick.
1,379 of the 2,800 homes being The largest neighbourhood will
affordable. After the Games, when sit between Stratford City and the
the park will become known as the stadium, centred around the Aquatics
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, all the Centre, where Stratford City meets the
Olympic platforms will be redeveloped waterfront. Another neighbourhood,
for non-game use and re-opened north-west of the Park and next to
between 2013 and 2015. Hackney Wick, will centre around a
The creation of five new new creative district incorporating the
neighbourhoods over the next 25 Press and Broadcast Centres, while
years will bring 11,000 much-needed another, the Old Ford area in the
family homes, stitching together the
area’s communities through new
transport connections, and providing
commercial and job opportunities.
What’s keeping Stratford in the news The housing will be modern versions
is, of course, the 2012 Olympic and of London’s Georgian and Victorian
Paralympic Games. The 200-hectare squares and terraces, with a mix of
Olympic Park will be home to the houses, maisonettes and apartments,
80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, Aquatics much of them along the park’s
Centre, VeloPark and Athletes Village, rejuvenated waterways. All these areas
together with the press centre over in will be served by primary schools,
Hackney Wick. There will also be a nurseries, community facilities and
network of new highways and bridges, health centres.
and new utilities infrastructure. The first of the five neighbourhoods
The 2,800-unit Athletes Village, will be in the north-east of the park,
currently being constructed by a with work due to commence in 2014,
consortium led by Lend Lease, will including a new high street between
accommodate up to 17,500 athletes the neighbourhood and the adjacent

30 spring 2011

south-west, will be created next to of the Games, with riverside gardens,
the Lea Navigation Canal. markets, events, cafes and bars,
The fifth neighbourhood will sit while the northern area will use the
to the south-east of the stadium, latest green techniques to manage
near Pudding Mill Station, and flood and rain water, while providing
will include allotments and light- quieter public space and wildlife
industrial employment. The ground habitats for hundreds of existing
The rest of Stratford will be
floor of properties on the High Street and rare species, from kingfishers
transformed, with a £10 million
will be available for shops and other to otters.
improvement programme
commercial opportunities.
already under way to turn
The park itself will become a huge
Stratford High Street into a
public resource. The southern part
Manhattan style boulevard.
will continue the festival atmosphere
The one-mile stretch
– directly south of the
Olympic Park – will be a
major route to the Games.
The investment by LTGDC will
see the refurbishment of the
former Stratford High Street
Station building, with roads
and pavements resurfaced,
lighting improved, street
furniture and railings removed
and more than 3,500 shrubs
and 70 trees planted.
Meanwhile, the Stratford
Town Centre Public Realm
Project will create new and
improved public spaces and
make the town centre a better
place to shop, visit and do
business. With Section 106
funding from Stratford City,
from central government
and the LDA, the project is
proposing new public realm
designs for key spaces:
TOP: Changing view at Meridian Square, the public
dusk to the Siemens transport gateway to Stratford;
Pavilion, Royal Docks,
due to open in 2012. Theatre Square at the heart
ABOVE: Daytime of the Cultural Quarter; the
panorama of Siemens historic Broadway; Maryland
Pavilion; and close up of
the iconic architecture. Station, the point of arrival
for Crossrail and National
Rail; and the Railway Tree
FAR LEFT: Olympic pool
at the Aquatics Centre. crossing. The project will also
LEFT: The Olympic upgrade and improve areas
Velodrome will be
completed first.
surrounding the island at the
CENTRE: At ground centre of the one-way system,
level, visitors will including the space around
experience the iconic
buildings and high
the Old Town Hall.
quality open space.

➳ ➳

At the southern end of the Lower Lea include 172 residential units and
Valley, Canning Town and Custom associated parking. Work will start
House is the focus of the sixth largest in 2012 with completion scheduled
regeneration scheme in the UK. for summer 2014.
LTGDC is helping to transform And English Cities Fund will
this deprived but well-connected create a 70,000sq m mixed-use
area over the next 15 years, to development in neighbouring
attract £3.7 billion of investment. Rathbone Market, a crucial element
This will create up to 10,000 new in delivering the wider regeneration
and refurbished homes across all of the area.
tenures. It will deliver 3,500 jobs, Over an area of 6.3 hectares the
as well as two vibrant town centres, scheme will include a 22-storey
leisure and retail facilities, along residential tower, retail, cafes,
with more green spaces of high a market square, with improved
quality, and greater opportunities pedestrian links and 659 new
for new and existing residents. homes. The first phase is on-site
A vital part of this development and will deliver new shops and 271
will be a £600 million scheme by new homes by summer 2012.
Bouygues at Canning Town, which Meanwhile, Countryside
will create 1,100 mixed tenure Properties will shortly start
homes and around 60,000sq m of construction on a development of
retail, offices and leisure facilities. 600 mixed tenure homes, together
The anchor retailer for the first with the rebuilding of a primary
phase is supermarket, Morrisons, school and community facilities,
whose 7,202sq m development will along with high quality open space.

32 spring 2011

“Connecting London’s green belt to the waterside settings. New footpaths and
Thames has been the holy grail of city cycleways will tackle road, rail and river
planners since 1944.” So says Peter Andrews, obstacles that have frustrated north and
chief executive of LTGDC. Lea River Park will south movement.
deliver a 61-hectare green corridor, extending The park’s backbone will be a route
from the Thames in the south to Hertfordshire of footpaths, cycleways and bridges.
in the north. “The project will open up east Receiving planning permission in June
London’s riverside to Londoners, creating a 2010, with £15 million LTGDC funding,
truly special place, while unlocking the huge the parkland route was developed with
regeneration potential within,” says Andrews. London Development Agency (Design for
The first phase will create a two-mile park London), the boroughs of Newham and
from the Olympic Park to the Thames at Tower Hamlets, with British Waterways and
East India Dock, connecting communities Transport for London.
and unlocking the development potential Phase one includes changes to open
of currently derelict sites with stunning spaces at either end of the two-mile
section. East India Dock Basin, the
remaining section of this dock, will provide
visitor attractions and enhanced habitats
as a nature reserve. Three Mills Green will
feature an events area, a sculpted viewing
terrace and table tennis tables. The first
phase will be completed in spring 2011.
A new lock and water control structures
have been built at Prescott Channel and
Three Mills Wall River. This will bring the
waterways back into 24-hour use, enable
water freight to use the river for Olympic
Park construction, and ultimately for
leisure pursuits. A water bus service from
Limehouse Basin to the Olympic Park will
start operating on the river in 2011.
As industrial land becomes available
opportunities could arise for Abbey Mills,
Twelve Trees Crescent, Leven Road and the
Limmo site in Canning Town to become
part of the Lea River Park.

The area is in two halves: Hackney including improvements to the London
Wick, north of the Hertford Union Overground station, better walking
Canal, is the more residential. Fish and cycling connections, and two new
Island, to the south, is dominated by bridges to provide direct access to the
Hackney Wick and Fish Island, one of industrial use, including spectacular Olympic Park, will turn those barriers
the Olympic Fringe masterplan areas, 19th-century warehouses. In the past into gateways to the rest of London.
plays a key role in connecting the decade, local industry has declined, With new workspaces, housing,
communities of Tower Hamlets and with empty commercial units replaced studios, galleries, cafes and shops
Hackney with the legacy development by more than 600 studios, double Hackney Wick will become a high
within the Olympic zone. Three miles those in artistic hot-spot Dalston. It energy, diverse and well connected
from Canary Wharf, less than a mile from remains among the most deprived area. The plan is also for the 2012
Stratford, the area of small industrial 10% of areas in England. International Broadcast Centre along
units and houses will be transformed into Not actually an island, it feels like with the Main Press Centre to become
a thriving hub for creative businesses, one: surrounded by canals, split by the a creative district, offering residents
building on the high concentration of London Overground, and cut off from a working lifestyle that can connect
designers, artists and galleries already London by the A12. However, through with the surrounding green space, the
colonising the cheap premises, while recent land acquisitions by LTGDC sports and entertainment venues, and

➳
nurturing the remaining industries. improved connections to the area local communities.


Bromley by Bow is ripe for regeneration. This atmospheric area, comprised
of under utilised light industrial units, boasts wonderful waterside settings
and an important heritage, hosting Three Mills Studios, London’s largest film
and television studio, as well as good transport connections. It is one of
LTDGC’s priorities and over the next decade, regeneration will bring 3,400
new homes, 60,000sq m commercial space, and hundreds of new jobs, all
thanks to £800 million of private sector investment.
In the north of the area, development had been hampered by land in
multiple ownership. LTGDC negotiated an innovative agreement with
Tesco, using its Compulsory Purchase powers to assemble land and
ensure comprehensive development.
The new district centre will include a superstore (creating 200
additional jobs), 454 new homes, 22 retail and other outlets including
business starter units, a library, a two-form entry primary school,
104-bed hotel and car park. The development will bring about safer
connections for pedestrians, cyclists and cars, improving the Bromley
by Bow station subway and creating a new pedestrian crossing over
the A12. It will offer 50% of new jobs to local people who have been
unemployed for more than six months.
Spurred on by Tesco’s involvement, the nearby Sugar House Lane
site was bought by Inter IKEA Group’s LandProp Holdings. This is the
largest land acquisition in the Olympic fringe area since Westfield’s
purchase at Stratford, signifying that international investors place
east London in poll position against other UK destinations. Currently
occupied by vacant industrial buildings, the site has potential for 1,500
homes, in a mixed-use development generating significantly more jobs.
Meanwhile, neighbouring the Tesco scheme to the north of the area,
East Thames, Southern Housing Group, and LTGDC are working on a
key regeneration site next to the River Lea, with the aim of replacing
derelict and underused former industrial buildings with a high quality
mixed-use development, including up to 700 homes.
Describing the area as one of the most important regeneration TOP: By 2012 a new
challenges, Peter Andrews, LTGDC chief executive says: “Bromley district centre will be
by Bow is crying out for change and it’s now going to get it by 2012. developed at Bromley
by Bow, bringing jobs,
Securing major development and investment will also act as a catalyst homes, retail and
for the sustained renewal of the area.” community facilities.

34 spring 2011

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FOR TOMORROW’S LIFESTYLES agency with a commitment to delivering
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visit swan.org.uk for further information or contact the development team on 0300 303 2500 to discuss partnership opportunities that can make a difference

London’s
hotspot
heats up
Everyone knows that Mayfair, Soho and Covent Garden make up the West End. In east
London, the names of Stratford, Bromley by Bow and Hackney Wick soon will become
just as familiar, according to Peter Andrews, chief executive of London Thames
Gateway Development Corporation. He discusses the powerhouse at the eastern end
of central London with Siobhán Crozier

36 spring 2011

ooking out from Peter Andrews’ office in the
heart of Docklands, you might think that east Peter Andrews’ CV
London’s development has been completed,
save the odd crane on the remaining wharves. 2005 chief executive, LTGDC
But the chief executive of London Thames 2003 CEO, Swindon’s urban regeneration company
Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) 1996 European managing director, Tishman International
sees a very different view: one packed with 1992 director of Dwyer PLC
development potential, set to complement 1989 development director, Winglaw Group
the plate-glass prosperity of Canary Wharf. “It has taken 30 1986 Bankers Trust Company
years,” says Andrews. “Since the Jubilee Line arrived, Canary 1981 Warburg Investment Management
Wharf has developed a critical mass, a tipping point. Look to 1980 BSc (Hons) in urban land economics
the north and further east, it still needs public intervention.”
The Lower Lee Valley, from the Thames in the south one in four new jobs in London. It accounts for 10% of
to the 2012 Olympics site at Stratford, exemplifies the London’s total employment and 11.5% of its total GVA.
challenges and opportunities: the under utilised land of “Equally it will continue to grow faster than the rest of
London’s old industries, where the challenge is to unlock London, making a significant contribution to the city’s
sites to exploit them. LTGDC has mapped out its vision economy, which makes a huge contribution to the national
for a hotspot of opportunity, ripe for transformation, ready economy,” Andrews says. “In terms of tax revenues we’re
for jobs, homes and investment. London’s key economic actually a gross contributor to the UK as a whole.”
transformers are right here: Stratford City, Canary Wharf Reasons to invest in east London remain compelling
and world class entertainment venue, The o2 arena, with and Andrews’ seriousness in attracting inward investment
the ExCeL exhibition centre and London City Airport in the is demonstrated by LTGDC’s marketing centre, the View,
east, the Olympic Park sits at the centre of this hotspot. The next to Bow Flyover. It offers vistas of the Olympic Park,
area has impressive public transport connections with more down the Lea Valley to Canary Wharf, across to ExCeL,
to come. It is unique in having its own airport and a global and west to the City. “People popping up at Canary Wharf
financial services centre, all a huge spur for development, as on the Jubilee Line are realising the opportunities around
Stratford City and the Olympic Park are being built. the area,” says Andrews. “As London’s development moves
“East London is emerging as a high quality mixed- inexorably east, these areas are joining together, creating
use district, set in unrivalled parkland landscape and a contiguous pattern of regeneration.” There are emerging
waterways, anchored by the Olympic Park. It’s going to be opportunity areas here: “In proximity to the Olympic Park
a very special place,” Andrews says. “We’re connecting it up, and the international broadcast and media centre, south of
unlocking sites for future development and ensuring that Stratford High Street, we want Hackney Wick to develop as
they contribute to realising our vision for the area. This London’s new hub for creative businesses,” he says.
vision is untrammelled even in the midst of the UK’s slow “The jewel in the crown is around Three Mills Lock,”
recovery from recession.” Andrews thinks. “With private sector occupiers and
“This tough climate is all the more reason to focus on developers, the area will be redeveloped to a quality that
areas which are going to make the biggest impact to the rivals the Olympic Park. Canning Town’s £600 million
UK economy – backing the winners with the focus on retail led town centre development scheme is moving
delivering transformative change,” thinks Andrews. East forward enormously and we’re about to see buildings
London has proved more durable than other UK regions coming out of the ground. We’ve secured Bouygues as our
and is expected to outperform them when growth resumes. development partner for the second largest scheme in the
“There’s an opportunity to leverage investment in the UK and Morrisons as an anchor retail partner. In time,
Olympic Park so that the Lower Lea Valley reaches that you’ll see a new Lea River Park providing a connection
tipping point.” Andrews knows it works: every pound of from the Olympic Park down to the Thames, encouraging
public money LTGDC has spent has leveraged £6 of private further high quality developments.”
sector investment. Better designed buildings in an improved environment
Future growth in east London is the basis for London are only part of the success story. “We’ve got to exploit the
maintaining its global pre-eminence. “There’s nowhere opportunity for the community’s benefit,” concludes Peter
else for London to expand,” he adds. Andrews is also Andrews. “The Olympics casts a welcome spotlight on
confident of LTGDC’s ability to maintain the momentum of development opportunities, but the stampede is happening
regeneration and realise its area’s economic potential. And already: with historic low values but excellent prospects for
east London’s potential is considerable. Oxford Economics’ growth, there has never been a better time to be a part of
research shows that from 2000 to 2008 this area generated east London’s future.”

“East London is emerging as a high quality mixed-use district,
set in unrivalled parkland landscape and waterways, anchored
by the Olympic Park. It’s going to be a very special place”


11 11

75%% 69% 76%
7569% 76%
of delegates at
of delegates at said they took took
said the event met met
said they
away ideas
said the coverage
said the coverage
SocInvest 2010 2010 away ideas and andof regeneration
SocInvest of regeneration
said the event information that that issuesissues was
information was
their objectives
their objectives wouldwould help “extremely good”good”
help “extremely
“extremely well” well” with funding
“extremely them them with funding or “good”. or “good”.
or “well”.
or “well”. initiatives.
initiatives.

e premierpremier Comments included:
e Comments included:SocInvest returns returns in
SocInvest in
regeneration finance finance “Good selection of
regeneration 2011 for the fourth year year
“Good selection of 2011 for the fourth
and fundingfunding event speakers and issues issues
and event speakers and running. Can you afford afford
running. Can you
took place inplace in London
took London covered”covered” to miss to miss out?
out?
on June 16, 2010, 2010,
on June 16,
attended by 160 senior senior
attended by 160 “Flowed well and kept kept Keep track oftrack of the
“Flowed well and Keep the
regeneration executives interestinterest going all day”
regeneration executives going all day” developing programme
developing programme
from the public and
from the public and at www.SocInvest.co.uk
at www.SocInvest.co.uk
“Excellent day - great - great subscribe there tothere to
private sectors sectors across
private across “Excellent day and and subscribe
the UK.the UK. mix of subjects and and monthly newsletter
mix of subjects the the monthly newsletter
speakers”speakers” and research projects.
and research projects.

With its oWn airport and a
netWork linking the UndergroUnd,
east london line and docklands
light railWay, east london is
already Well-served by pUblic
transport. it benefits hUgely from
the improvements in preparation for
london 2012. and there’s crossrail to
come, as Geoff fordham reports

continued overleaf ➳

The extension of the Jubilee line in 1999 is seen as

N
the catalyst in the regeneration of east London.

40 spring 2011

FAR LEFT: Canary Wharf BELOW: New cycling and
Crossrail station. walking routes are part of
CENTRE: The Royal transport plans.
Docks with ExCeL BOTTOM: The Docklands
London and City Airport. Light Railway.


Canary Wharf - The ultimate lifestyle
in the London Thames Gateway

www.canarywharf.com

View
from
the top
Just what makes east London a business hotspot? Looking out onto the Olympic site from LTGDC’s marketing suite, The View,
six leading businessmen share their inspiration with LTGDC’s head of economic development

1 Simon Bennett, head of stakeholder management at Crossrail
2 Gordon d’Silva, founder and chief executive of charity, Training for Life
12 3 4 5 6 7 3 Howard dawBer, strategic adviser at Canary Wharf Group
4 CHriS danielS, head of London 2012 Activation, Lloyds Banking Group
5 Jon lane, business development director, BT’s London 2012 team
6 JoHn middleton, chair, LTGDC’s head of economic development
7 JonatHan danielS, development director at Westfield
➳


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