Housing

A small block of flats (left) from a private developer in Cadogan Terrace, between Eastway and Victoria Park. Despite the hoarding announcing completion in Sept 2011, construction ceased about four months before due to the financial market crash. Meanwhile construction of the Olympic stadium (in the background) powers ahead funded by taxpayers. The bankers of last resort. Photo taken Sept 2011

New apartments to let, Stratford station. Nov 2010

New apartments for sale, Stratford station. Nov 2010

Looking towards the ‘Athletes Village’ from the east side of the Olympic Park. Dec 2013

Half of the 2,800 flats in the Olympic Village, plus six plots of land that offer the potential to construct 2,000 more homes and 10 hectares of parkland, were sold off in August 2011. A Qatar sovereign investment fund bought this property at the lowest point of the recession. The loss to taxpayers was upwards of £300m. Included in the sale was the value of additional sites with future development potential.

“Newham badly needs more aspirational housing to build upon the interest in the area from the Olympic Games” Newham Housing Market Assesment 2010, p204.

Right next to Stratford International railway station the hoarding marks the site where the developer Harry Handelsman intends to start building his 42 storey upmarket apartment block

“The key to contemporary urban living must include thoughtful and genuinely useful amenities. In order to make living at Manhattan Loft Gardens a truly unique experience, much consideration and effort has been directed towards the services offered, from the pool and gym to private al fresco dining in the 7th- and 25th-floor gardens.” Harry Handelsman, Founder, Manhattan Loft Corporation