Six developers have been shortlisted as plans make a step forward for the delivery of new homes on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London.
The Shortlisted developers include; Carillion-igloo and Genesis Housing Association, Grainger, Lend Lease, L&Q, Mace and Argent, Places for People and Balfour Beatty.
The Mayor of London and the London Legacy Development Corporation announced plans in July 2013 to accelerate the development with a view to completing in 2023, six years ahead of the original masterplan. The neighbourhoods of East Wick and Sweetwater will create up to 1,500 homes and will include private rented sector housing and much needed affordable homes.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: "These neighbourhoods are about far more than bricks and mortar but about creating living, vibrant communities with a range of housing choices for Londoners, sitting at the heart of a dynamic new quarter of the capital. Having such a volume of interest from developers is a great step forward in this process."
The new neighbourhoods will be situated near the new digital quarter at Here East, with East Wick containing up to 870 new homes with a variety of Townhouses, mews, studios and flats and is located in the north-west of the Park next to Hackney Wick. It was also include a new primary school and two new nurseries, 5,300sqm of employment, 5,600sqm of community space and 4,700sqm retail and leisure.
Sweetwater will include 67,700sqm residential consisting of approximately 650 new homes (Studios, flats and family homes), it will be located in the south-west of the Park near Old Ford and the Copper Box Arena a new primary school, two new nurseries and a health centre plus 1,000sqm employment, 8,400sqm community and 2,500sqm retail.
The shortlisted six will now go forward to the competitive dialogue stage. During this stage, the selected bidders are able to bring in additional national or international partners to further enhance their offers.
The Legacy Corporation will explore in the next few months the six bidders outline development plans before selecting a shortlist of up to three bidders. The final three bidders will work up plans in more detail before submitting final tenders in the summer. A decision on the final development partner will be made in autumn 2014.
Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: "We are entering the most exciting stage in the transformation of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The south of the Park opens to the public on 5 April, work will start on the first new neighbourhood, Chobham Manor, in the summer, and our plans for a new educational and cultural quarter with the V&A and UCL are taking shape. We are creating a new part of the city and these neighbourhoods will be at its heart."
