Developers asked to bid to build first post-games community

Developers are to be invited to bid to build an 800-home community next to the athlete’s village on the Olympics site after next year’s games, London mayor, Boris Johnson, announced today in the Mipim property fair in Cannes.

The site, around seven hectares in size, is situated between the village and the Hopkins-designed velodrome will be the first of five developments to come forward after 2012. The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), which is leading the procurement process, says the development will have to include a mixture of flats, mews houses and town houses, with 60% being family homes.

The OPLC is to submit an outline planning application in the second half of the year for the whole park, with the selected developer expected to work up detailed plans for the 800 homes. The OPLC has already said that 35% of homes will have to be affordable, and the 800 homes will be centred around 3,000m2 of community and ancillary facilities including a polyclinic, two nurseries and a community centre.

A formal OJEU notice announcing the competition will be issued next month, following today’s Cannes announcement.

Boris Johnson said: “This major milestone signals the dawn of creating a brand new district rising in the capital where communities will be created around excellent facilities and new infrastructure.”

Margaret Ford, chair of the OPLC, said: “This is the most exciting neighbourhood development opportunity in the UK. We will be looking for an exceptional developer who shares our vision to bring together the best traditions of London’s architecture and design.”

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