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Revitalisation London's Olympic bid is raising interest in the East End's potential. But a massive scheme for Stratford is going ahead, whether the bid wins or loses. Jack Ozanne reports
In 1988, Godfrey Bradman and Stuart Lipton announced their proposal for King's Cross. Fifteen years later, London & Continental Railways, Excel and Argent St George have been granted planning permission for a scheme they expect to take 15 years to deliver.
Lipton is now focusing, with London & Continental and Chelsfield, on a larger area of dereliction further east, in Stratford. The massive scale model of the £3bn Stratford City development on show in Stratford town hall represents an area four times the size of the £ibn plan for King's Cross. But will it take 15 years before anything is built at Stratford?
Chelsfield's Nigel Hughill will not say which phase will be first out of the blocks, but he is robust in his overall view of the plans. "People say we are pioneers to come this far east of the capital with such a large plan, but we're not," he says. "Everything's pretty well here already. There's an established town centre with good roads. When the 10-minute rail link into St Paneras is finished in 30 months' time, it'll be clear what a good location this is. "
The model's lack of allusion to the Olympics speaks volumes. Although the Games' main stadium, aquatics centre and velodrome would be to the west of Stratford City, there is no sight of them. "Stuart and I wouldn't have spent five years of our lives working this plan up if it was dependent on the bid," says Hughill. "We're going to spend £100m in Stratford in terms of section 106 agreements, plus another £2,0001 for road and bridges."
The £3bn outline project awaits Newham council's first response at the end of july. According to both Hughill and Newham's Mike Heraty, head of regeneration projects, negotiations are...