Mayor of London Boris Johnson descended on Newham today to announce an extra 1,500 homes to be built in the Olympic Park.
Visiting the park this morning, the Mayor confirmed that developers Places for People and Balfour Beatty were on board to create the two new neighbourhoods of East Wick and Sweetwater – six years earlier than was expected.
“This is the most successful and fastest growing city anywhere in Europe,” said the Mayor, “and it is absolutely vital we provide thousands of new houses to allow people to live close to their places of work.”
He added: “I am thrilled to confirm we have now appointed high quality developers to help bring forward plans for these important new neighbourhoods in our iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a whopping six years ahead of target.”
Of the new homes announced this week, 30 per cent will be affordable and 500 will be private homes to rent.
The developers were chosen from a shortlist of six teams to create 850 new homes in East Wick and 650 new homes in Sweetwater.
The project aims to build a “vibrant new community” on the west of the park connecting people in Hackney Wick and Fish Island.
East Wick, located in the north-west of the park near Hackney Wick and the digital quarter at Here East, will include townhouses, mews, studios and flats, a new primary school and two new nurseries.
Sweetwater, located in the south-west of the Park near Old Ford and the Copper Box Arena, will feature studios, apartments and family homes with private gardens, plus a new primary school, two new nurseries and a health centre.
Shops and businesses will also have the chance to set up in the new neighbourhoods, set to be completed in 2023.
David Cowans, chief executive of Places for People, said: “This is east London’s moment and it’s our big moment too.
“We are thrilled to have been selected to be part of the transformation of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”
David Goldstone, chief executive of London Legacy Development Corporation, said: “East Wick and Sweetwater will exemplify the best of London’s residential architecture and we hope it can provide a model.”
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