GCSE Geography | Olympic Park Regeneration (UK City Study: London 10)

In 2007 London was chosen as the city to host the 2012 Olympics - a major part of the bid was about how the Games would regenerate Newham in East London, one of the most deprived boroughs of London. The Olympic Park was built in the Lower Lea Valley - the River Lea is a tributary of the Thames and the Lea Valley was previously one of the main industrial areas in London.

Preparations for the Games involved a huge clean-up operation of old contaminated sites and waterways (such as that pictured below). The soil was polluted with cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, selenium and lead, so decontamination significantly improved the local environment. Electricity pylons were removed and buried below ground which improved the appearance of the area. However, construction also involved compulsory purchase of land with homes and businesses on, which resulted in displacement of local communities, such as the Clay Lanes housing estate which was home to 450 residents; and the closure of two industrial estates with 250 businesses and 5000 employees.

Regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has completely transformed the environment of the Lower Lea Valley.

What was removed?

• Old factories and industrial estates
• Old housing estates
• Derelict and overgrown sites
• Electricity pylons and overhead cables
• Contaminated soil and polluted waterways

What was constructed?

• Queen Elizabeth Park - a brand new 100-acre landscaped park with tourist attractions and natural habitats (pictured below)
• A range of new sports venues, e.g. Aquatics centre and Velopark - to be used by the local community and local schools
• Main stadium - now home to West Ham United, but also used for concerts and other events
• Athletes’ Village - since converted into a sustainable community with 2,800 homes (East Village - E20)
• ArcelorMittal Orbit - 115m high sculpture and observation tower which is Britain's largest piece of public art and incorporates the world's tallest and longest tunnel slide (178m)
• Olympic Media Centre - is now a creative industries hub named Here East - which provides jobs for around 5000 people.

Since 2012:

• International Quarter - a development of high-rise office blocks with over 25,000 people working there.
• East Bank development - new cultural hub which is home to BBC Music, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London College of Fashion and the V&A Museum.

What has been the legacy of the 2012 Games?

Social improvements

• Construction of 10,000 new homes by 2030, converting the former Athletes' Village along with 5 new communities - 40% will be affordable
• New school with 1800 places (aged 3-18)
• Sports facilities for use by local community (including schools)
• Transport improvements - Stratford International station upgrade (also served by the new Elizabeth Line) and new bus station
• Leisure facilities - waterways, parkland and playgrounds

Economic improvements

• Selling buildings after the Games generated £9 billion
• Creation of jobs in the run-up to the Games and since during further regeneration
• Significant infrastructure improvements - encourages further investment (multiplier effect)
• Opening of Westfield shopping centre created 10,000 permanent new jobs (in an area where unemployment levels were high)
• Creation of 20,000 new jobs by 2030

Environmental improvements

• Queen Elizabeth Park has plenty of walking and cycling routes, along with bike hire facilities, and links to public transport
• Homes have eco-credentials (see below)
• Restoration of waterways, wetlands and riverside meadows, and planting of 300,000 trees and shrubs has improved wildlife habitats and increased biodiversity (see photo below)
• Removal of contaminated soil

East Village - a sustainable community

The former Athletes' Village has been converted into 2800 new homes (pictured below) - and there will be a total of 10,000 built by 2030. 40% of these homes are affordable with lower rental rates.

Energy efficiency - the high-rise modern apartments are well-insulated to prevent heat-loss, and the combined heat and power system uses 30% less energy than the average urban area. The on-site biomass power station generates electricity and the hot water produced as a by-product is pumped into the apartment blocks and into the heating systems. LED lighting is used throughout East Village, which has saved 5000 tons of carbon emissions.

Water conservation - rainwater is recycled by the wetland reed beds - it is filtered naturally and then used to irrigate plants and flush toilets, which means East Village uses 50% less water than the average area.

Green/living roofs - these provide wildlife habitats, filter out air pollution and slow the flow of surface run-off from rain, which aids water recycling.

Recycling - around 99% of waste is recycled (compared to 32.7% across London). There are fortnightly collections of cardboard, paper, plastic bottles, tins and cans which get carefully sorted at a local re-use and recycling centre to be made into new products.

Encouraging less car usage - although each apartment block has a parking area, residents have to pay extra for a space. There are excellent walking and cycling routes as well as integrated public transport links into central London.

Green open spaces - Over 1/3 of East Village is green space with 10 hectares of parkland and ponds. Hundreds of new trees have been planted, including orchards, to encourage wildlife, improve air quality and reduce the risk of flooding. Each apartment block has its own shared private green space, and there and play areas throughout.

Shops and services - East Village has 35 independent shops and café-bars which helps to keep money in the local area. There is a also a large health centre and a new school (Chobham Academy) which has 1,800 pupils in its primary school, secondary school and sixth form centre.