Newham Council and Olympics organisers have breathed a collective sigh of relief, as plans to build Britain's biggest mosque in East London have collapsed.
An Islamic missionary group, Tablighi Jamaat, wanted to build the so called "super mosque" (capable of accommodating 12,000 worshippers) near to the Olympic site.
They have been operating an illegal temporary mosque at Abbey Mills, just South of the London 2012 Olympics site in Stratford, and now have a week to leave the site.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Showing posts with label property. Show all posts
Showing posts with label property. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Months of Olympic Chaos
It seems that mere mortals in Woolwich, not lucky enough to be granted special travel lanes/travel arrangements for the Olympics, will be suffering some considerable travel inconvenience during (and indeed in the 9 months preceding) the London Olympics.
The Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) will be closing roads around the 2012 shooting venue, up to nine months before the event. Ha Ha Road, Repository Road and Circular Way will be closed before and during the Games.
The ODA planning application also shows that sports fields will be closed, and an unspecified number of trees felled.
I am sure that the residents of Woolwich will bear their inconvenience with fortitude!
After all the Olympics is such a "worthy, well supported and popular cause", isn't it?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
The Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) will be closing roads around the 2012 shooting venue, up to nine months before the event. Ha Ha Road, Repository Road and Circular Way will be closed before and during the Games.
The ODA planning application also shows that sports fields will be closed, and an unspecified number of trees felled.
I am sure that the residents of Woolwich will bear their inconvenience with fortitude!
After all the Olympics is such a "worthy, well supported and popular cause", isn't it?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Gentrification - The True Olympic Legacy
Unsurprisingly, as money is pumped into East London (around the site of London 2012 Olympics), property prices are rising and those locals who are at the bottom end of the economic pecking order are being displaced by a slow but steady wave of gentrification.
The legacy of the games, as espoused by the politcians, was meant to be that of improving the living conditions and environment etc of the local population.
The reality is that those who are disadvantaged will be displaced.
Not exactly the legacy that they were promised.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
The legacy of the games, as espoused by the politcians, was meant to be that of improving the living conditions and environment etc of the local population.
The reality is that those who are disadvantaged will be displaced.
Not exactly the legacy that they were promised.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Slump Hits Flats
The Guardian reports that the slump in property prices has resulted in the number of post Olympic apartments, in London's Olympic Park, being reduced from 4,200 to about 2,800.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
A Nice Little Earner?
Despite the fact that the property market has all but collapsed, there are still possibilities for those with "balls of steel" to make some money.
That at least is the view that some estate agents and property development companies are trying to propagate, in respect of property near to the Olympics 2012 site.
George Wimpey, for example, are offering packages on its Altius apartment homes development which is near the London 2012 Olympic Village.
Deals include £199,995 for a one-bedroom apartment, or fast track completion in two weeks gets you the same property for £179,995.
The theory being that demand for property near to the games will be high as 2012 approaches, ie buyers can rent out the property or "flip" them to another buyer for a premium.
We shall see!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
That at least is the view that some estate agents and property development companies are trying to propagate, in respect of property near to the Olympics 2012 site.
George Wimpey, for example, are offering packages on its Altius apartment homes development which is near the London 2012 Olympic Village.
Deals include £199,995 for a one-bedroom apartment, or fast track completion in two weeks gets you the same property for £179,995.
The theory being that demand for property near to the games will be high as 2012 approaches, ie buyers can rent out the property or "flip" them to another buyer for a premium.
We shall see!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Pre Fab
In an interesting move, given the property crisis in Britain, Travelodge is planning to build several "modular" pre fab hotels in London in time for the 2012 Games.
The 120 room modules are pre-built in metal containers in factories near Shenzhen, China.
Seemingly, despite the property downturn, it's simply too expensive to use British labour to build these.
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
The 120 room modules are pre-built in metal containers in factories near Shenzhen, China.
Seemingly, despite the property downturn, it's simply too expensive to use British labour to build these.
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, October 22, 2007
Post Olympic Shock
Once the London Olympics 2012 have ended, what will happen afterwards?
That's the question posed by Dr Angus McIntosh, a King Sturge (a property consultant) research partner.
Dr McIntosh notes that the improvements in infrastructure in the area that the Games are being held in will provide a boost to property prices pre 2012.
However, as he is quoted in the Telegraph:
"When all the crowds have gone, what are you left with?"
"At the moment there's a lot of discussion about the construction programme being over budget, but we haven't found any clear vision of what legal or political structure will be in place in the future.
You think of thousands of new homes, the parkland, the schools, the doctors' surgeries, all the bits that make sustainable urban development.
Who is going to manage and maintain it?
Who are the asset managers, not in 2012 but 2022?"
That is exactly the point that the politicians like to gloss over.
Other countries that have hosted the Games have found that the infrastructure that has been built becomes something of a wasteland afterwards. One year after the Athens Olympics the houses built stood empty.
Has anyone in charge of the UK Olympics really addressed that issue?
That's the question posed by Dr Angus McIntosh, a King Sturge (a property consultant) research partner.
Dr McIntosh notes that the improvements in infrastructure in the area that the Games are being held in will provide a boost to property prices pre 2012.
However, as he is quoted in the Telegraph:
"When all the crowds have gone, what are you left with?"
"At the moment there's a lot of discussion about the construction programme being over budget, but we haven't found any clear vision of what legal or political structure will be in place in the future.
You think of thousands of new homes, the parkland, the schools, the doctors' surgeries, all the bits that make sustainable urban development.
Who is going to manage and maintain it?
Who are the asset managers, not in 2012 but 2022?"
That is exactly the point that the politicians like to gloss over.
Other countries that have hosted the Games have found that the infrastructure that has been built becomes something of a wasteland afterwards. One year after the Athens Olympics the houses built stood empty.
Has anyone in charge of the UK Olympics really addressed that issue?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
House Prices
Estate agents are never shy to talk up house prices, and use every trick in the book to do so. Therefore it should come as no surprise to learn that they are using the 2012 London Olympics as a tool with which to underpin the already overpriced London housing market.
Ludlow Thompson, a firm of estate agents, has said that the 2012 Olympic Games in East London could boost property prices by £50K-£100K. The theory being that the regeneration of the area will allow first time buyers, who cannot afford central London, to enter the market.
It is not without precedent that the Olympics can, on occasions, boost house prices. Reports highlight that property prices rose by 63% in Athens in the 5 years prior to the 2004 games, while those in Sydney rose 50% in the same period before the 2000 games and those in Barcelona rose 131% in the 5 years before the 1992 games.
However, as we know, London is already in the midst of a house price boom that already appears to be unsustainable. It is highly unlikely that the Olympics will boost prices in the manner that the estate agents would have us believe.
Ludlow Thompson, a firm of estate agents, has said that the 2012 Olympic Games in East London could boost property prices by £50K-£100K. The theory being that the regeneration of the area will allow first time buyers, who cannot afford central London, to enter the market.
It is not without precedent that the Olympics can, on occasions, boost house prices. Reports highlight that property prices rose by 63% in Athens in the 5 years prior to the 2004 games, while those in Sydney rose 50% in the same period before the 2000 games and those in Barcelona rose 131% in the 5 years before the 1992 games.
However, as we know, London is already in the midst of a house price boom that already appears to be unsustainable. It is highly unlikely that the Olympics will boost prices in the manner that the estate agents would have us believe.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
1.5M Displaced For Olympics
The Olympics are expensive and expensive exercise, not just in terms of time and money, but also in terms of human misery.
That at least is the view of of the Geneva based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), which has stated that some 1.5 million residents of Beijing will be displaced by the time it hosts the 2008 Olympics; many evicted against their will.
COHRE claims that residents are often forced from their homes with little notice and little compensation, as the Chinese government embarks on a massive city redevelopment to accommodate the Games.
Quote:
"In Beijing, and in China more generally, the process of demolition and eviction is characterised by arbitrariness and lack of due process."
China's Foreign Ministry said it was groundless and the figures vastly inflated.
Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said 6,037 people had been displaced since 2002 for the construction of Olympic stadiums.
Quote:
"During the process, the citizens have had their compensation property settled. No single person was forced to move out of Beijing."
COHRE should be aware that China is embarking on a period of unprecedented growth and economic development, the Games are merely the catalyst for the upheavals to come.
That at least is the view of of the Geneva based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), which has stated that some 1.5 million residents of Beijing will be displaced by the time it hosts the 2008 Olympics; many evicted against their will.
COHRE claims that residents are often forced from their homes with little notice and little compensation, as the Chinese government embarks on a massive city redevelopment to accommodate the Games.
Quote:
"In Beijing, and in China more generally, the process of demolition and eviction is characterised by arbitrariness and lack of due process."
China's Foreign Ministry said it was groundless and the figures vastly inflated.
Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said 6,037 people had been displaced since 2002 for the construction of Olympic stadiums.
Quote:
"During the process, the citizens have had their compensation property settled. No single person was forced to move out of Beijing."
COHRE should be aware that China is embarking on a period of unprecedented growth and economic development, the Games are merely the catalyst for the upheavals to come.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The Chicago Sell Off
Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley, has promised taxpayers that they would not end up footing the bill for the 2016 Olympics (were Chicago to win the right to host the games).
How can he keep his word, given that those cities that host the Olympics tend to make huge losses?
Simple, Chicago has been secretly drafting a plan to sell public assets to help fund the Games and will use the money raised to cover up to $500M in losses.
The United States Olympic Committee had demanded financial assurances that Chicago can pay for the games. As such Chicago has developed plans for the sale of public air rights over near-downtown property.
On April 14, the U.S. Olympic Committee selected Chicago to represent the U.S. in the bid for the 2016 Olympics. The final choice of host city will be made by the International Olympic Committee in October 2009.
How can he keep his word, given that those cities that host the Olympics tend to make huge losses?
Simple, Chicago has been secretly drafting a plan to sell public assets to help fund the Games and will use the money raised to cover up to $500M in losses.
The United States Olympic Committee had demanded financial assurances that Chicago can pay for the games. As such Chicago has developed plans for the sale of public air rights over near-downtown property.
On April 14, the U.S. Olympic Committee selected Chicago to represent the U.S. in the bid for the 2016 Olympics. The final choice of host city will be made by the International Olympic Committee in October 2009.
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