Firms shortlisted for first post-Olympics homes

The Olympic Park Legacy Company has unveiled its shortlist for the groups in line to build the first post-Games neighbourhood on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

They are: East Thames and Countryside Properties; Barratt Homes and the Le Frak Organisation; and Taylor Wimpey and London & Quadrant.

The three are vying to build the 800-home “Chobham Manor” development, which will be sited between the Athletes’ Village and the VeloPark, and which is designed as tree-lined avenues of terraced and mews homes, the first of which should be ready in 2014.

Legacy company chief executive Andrew Altman said the Chobham development would “set the benchmark for quality design and sustainable living” on the Olympic Park and that the aim was to appoint a preferred bidder before the start of the games.

“The three shortlisted parties are all capable of delivering to the highest standards and creating a thriving family community,” he said.

“They reflect the strong market appetite to develop family housing in the area.

“The Legacy Company’s housing strategy has taken into consideration the number of high-density developments already being planned for the surrounding area. It also responds to the views of local people who have put the need for family housing, quality open spaces and supporting amenities among their top priorities.”

Seventy percent of Chobham Manor is scheduled to be family housing, and the Olympic Park Legacy Company said 40% of the properties would have gardens.

The three favoured bidders will now enter into an intensive series of competitive dialogue meetings to formalise detailed proposals for submission in June.

Six bidders were longlisted for Chobham Manor in December. Those not making it to the shortlist are: St James Group Limited (Berkeley); Swan Housing Association, Urban Splash, Yoo & Mace; and Notting Hill Housing, United Housing and HTA.