1st Edition

Olympic Housing A Critical Review of London 2012's Legacy

By Penny Bernstock Copyright 2014
    218 Pages
    by Routledge

    218 Pages
    by Routledge

    One of the distinguishing characteristics of London's bid to host the games was its commitment to legacy where it was argued that ’the legacy would lead to the regeneration of an entire community for the direct benefit of everyone who lives there’. This book adopts a critical approach to the concept of 'legacy' focussing specifically on housing. It argues there will be a range of both intended and unintended legacy outcomes and an urgent need for revised strategies if those original objectives are to be achieved. The concept of legacy is explored in a number of ways, including an overview of housing legacy in other host cities; the experiences and perspectives of those residents decanted to make way for the Olympic Park; a critical review of legacy plans; a detailed analysis of the conversion of the Athletes’ Village into housing; and a case study of the emerging area ’Stratford High Street’, which explores issues of social class change and the limitation of planning policies. Whilst taking housing as its focus, this book adopts a sociological perspective by exploring the likelihood of social class change in order to draw conclusions about 'gentrification', 'social polarisation' and the extent to which 'social inclusion' is reflected in housing legacies.

    Introduction; Chapter 1 Housing Legacy in Context; Chapter 2 Moving Out: Experiences of Those Decanted to Make Way for the Olympic Park; Chapter 3 A Note on the Carpenters Estate; Chapter 3a London Housing Legacy: An Overview; Chapter 4 The Shifting Terrain of Housing Legacy Plans; Chapter 5 From Athletes' Village to East Village; Chapter 6 Accelerated Regeneration – A Case Study of Stratford High Street; Chapter 7 New Migrants to Stratford City; Chapter 9 Conclusion Imagining the Housing Futures of London 2012;

    Biography

    Dr Penny Bernstock is Head of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of East London, UK.

    ’This is a carefully-researched study of the housing consequences of the London Olympics Games for East London. Despite some benefits for local people, the overall winners have been private sector developers and the already comparatively-advantaged from elsewhere in London seeking out the city’s last affordable housing market. Although not a story of untrammelled gentrification, the fully justified story line is to those who hath shall be given.’ Tim Butler, King’s College London, UK ’Various aspects of the 2012 London Olympics' housing legacy have been discussed previously, but Penny Bernstock's book provides the first comprehensive overview of this important topic. It is based on a meticulous analysis of a wide range of original and secondary data sources and as such it makes a substantial contribution towards our understanding of both the 2012 Olympics and the rapidly changing housing and social landscape of East London.’ Paul Watt, Birkbeck, University of London, UK