Games Monitor

It has to be pointed out that the residents at Clays Lane had all been moved out by 23rd July 2007. Tony Lloyd-Jones is right about the lack of a right to return, there is no 'right to return' for Clays Lane residents, although this was discussed back in 2003 when the LDA first met with residents.

The new flats at Clays Lane or what is to be called Channelsea Village will be much more expensive than the housing they replace even if they are called 'affordable housing'. The 'affordable' element is expected to be 30% but that will depend on development costs in the future.

As has already been pointed out the Athletes' Village will not produce 9000 new homes as this figure, claimed for the whole Village as opposed to just the Clays Lane section, includes housing to be built at Stratford City which would have been built anyway. Nor does it include the loss of the housing at Clays Lane and Park Village, the two neighbouring estates which were demolished.

Tony is also correct to point out that the park is tied to housing development and the more desirable the park the more expensive the residential developments are likely to be, in terms of the money the LDA will be able to raise from sales to developers. Those costs will be passed on in rents.

There is also a problem with the park as large areas will be overlooked by sports facilities and will therefore also be affected by crowds of people attending elite events. It is likely Channelsea Village, for example, will be cut off from the main park along the river by at least one stadium.