London’s Olympic city: Equalising the East?

With the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games came the promise of regeneration in East London — the most deprived part of the city for 150 years. The six East and South-East London boroughs hosting the Games said that regeneration should improve the life chances of residents in the sub-region to meet those of London as a whole. Over those 150 years, the industries of East London have changed, but the underlying infrastructure of the city has largely made it difficult to shift London’s geographically ingrained inequalities. The Olympic Park provides the chance to establish a new city centre in the east of London, to change its economic dynamic so that it becomes the fulcrum for future growth. In itself, this new centre will not be enough to equalise life chances, but it is essential in shifting the city’s geographical inequalities. Hackney council has promoted this vision, but also understands that the benefits of the new place will only be of real value when they change the quality of life for existing residents. So, it has worked to ensure that the new place and existing communities will mutually benefit from each other’s strengths. Most importantly, the new place must draw strength from Hackney’s entrepreneurial hi-tech and digital industries, while also providing new work opportunities — especially for Hackney’s young people.