Urban regeneration

• An example of an urban regeneration project :

  • The London Olympic Park
• Why was urban regeneration needed in London Olympic park?

  
  

  • An abundance of derelict + brownfield sites
  • Area of social deprivation, poor quality housing + high unemployment
  • Existing infrastructure was poor
• Improving image : Why was urban regeneration needed in London Olympic park?

  • To leave a legacy of not just hosting the 2012 olympics, but a prominent improvement in East London.
  • Improve economically, infrastructure, sport facilities
• Social advantages

  • New school opened called Chobham Academy providing extra school places
  • Athletes village had been relaunched as a housing estate : East Village : 2,818 homes with 40% being 'affordable'
• Economic advantages

  • Brought more than 9 billion pounds of investment into East London, much going towards transport
  • Unemployment fell across London during the olympic period
  • Infrastructure improved - Stratford Tube Station to help connect the area to the rest of London
• Environmental advantages

  • New green spaces + wildlife habitats created, including woodlands.
  • Many of the grounds in Olympic Park kept as parkland + open to public for recreational use
  • Trees create shade which create pockets of cooler air, reducing the urban heat levels
• Westfield : Economic advantage

  • 8,000 new jobs created at Westfield Shopping centre
• Social disadvantages 


  • Properties for poorer people had to be demolished to make way for the site
  • Many people in the boroughs surrounding Olympic Park remain in poverty
• Economic disadvantages

  • Very few jobs created for LOCAL people - still high levels of unemployment in Newham
  • Rents + property prices increased as a result of the games
• Environmental disadvantages 


  
  

  • Games produced 3.3 million tonnes of CO2
  • Wildlife had to be relocated e.g 100 toads + 300 common lizards
  • Majority materials used to build the stadiums came from overseas (fossil fuels burnt).