The long read: After so many other Olympic sites ended up left to rot, London 2012 was supposed to be different. But who has really benefited from this orgy of development?
in 2018, by Labour mayor Sadiq Khan, in an attempt to equate the Olympic cultural hub with the South Bank and the Thames-side legacy of the 1951 Festival of Britain. The comparison doesn’t do it many favours. “It’s like the South Bank with all the space squeezed out of it,” said one architect involved in the project. “It is basically one gigantic megastructure, dressed by different designers. It’s the ultimate child of modern procurement methods.
“It’s a great place to have a family,” Osman told me. “There’s a real sense of community, and having the park on our doorstep has been such a bonus, especially during the pandemic. Every time I go to the park I find something new – it’s full of hidden gems. When I take pictures of the wildlife and send them to my friends, no one believes it’s in London.”
“The park charge is killing us,” said Osman. “I don’t know why we’re paying for it, when anyone can use it.” The legacy corporation insists that the charge is “fair and reasonable”, adding: “These type of charges have existed for many years and have been increasingly used on large regeneration projects like ours.” It is a reminder that, despite using the Queen’s name, this is not a royal park, but a place that is managed like a private estate.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘A massive betrayal’: how London’s Olympic legacy was sold outThe long read: After so many other Olympic sites ended up left to rot, London 2012 was supposed to be different. But who has really benefited from this orgy of development?
Read more »
Brookfield’s infra, private equity arms involved in AGL buyingAGL Energy dropped a nice little bomb on Thursday morning, revealing its former suitor Brookfield Asset Management had popped up with a 2.56 per cent stake in the company.
Read more »
Atlanta season three review – this peerless show’s impact will live for everIn the four long years since the last outing of Donald Glover’s bold, expectation-defying comedy cum absurdist horror, its cast have become megastars – and this epic third season shows why
Read more »
‘It is more than a song’: the enduring power of Leonard Cohen’s HallelujahIn a new documentary, fans and experts explore the legacy of a song that was originally shunned before becoming a timeless classic
Read more »
‘It is more than a song’: the enduring power of Leonard Cohen’s HallelujahIn a new documentary, fans and experts explore the legacy of a song that was originally shunned before becoming a timeless classic
Read more »
Clayton Oliver signs massive seven-year contract to stay with Melbourne DemonsMelbourne star Clayton Oliver turns his back on the lucrative free agency market in favour of re-signing with the reigning premiers until the end of 2030.
Read more »