20 Political ambition
The transformation of Stratford resulted from a confluence of ambition
Most large projects are not the work of a single actor, whether designer, developer or politician. This is undoubtedly the case in Stratford, where successive cycles of long-term change have resulted from a confluence of ambition. It was the coming together of forces and personalities at multiple levels that made the original plans for the rail lands possible. At a later date, the repetition of such relationships had a similarly catalytic effect on the expansion of those plans more widely across Lea Valley. In both cases, transformation has been made possible by the shared interests of multiple parties with significant alignment of intent.
Newham At a Newham level, there was strong political pressure from elected councillors including Conor McAuley, who has spent long periods developing an agenda of regeneration for some of London’s most economically disadvantaged communities. First elected in 1982, McAuley
has lobbied for 30 years to see the borough transformed; a particular focus has been on the redevelopment of under-used or derelict sites and investment in infrastructure at Stratford, initially with the Docklands Light Railway and then with the Jubilee Line extension. Previously a long-standing member of the Newham planning committee, McAuley is currently the executive member for regeneration and sits on the Olympic Delivery Authority planning committee, as well as holding numerous other public posts. Robin Wales was also first elected in 1982.
He served as leader of the council and became the borough’s first directly elected mayor in 2002, a position he continues to hold. The stability of political leadership in the borough has helped his ability to lobby for inward investment and act as a focus for representing the area to the wider world. The role of council officers was as important
as those of elected representatives. Efforts were led by Stephen Hoier and others within the regeneration department to link economic development with strategic planning. The borough, together with English Partnerships, commissioned Newham’s Arc of Opportunity in 1999 to establish a vision for the future of the borough, from the planned Stratford International station in the north through the Lower Lea Valley into Canning Town, via the Royal Docks and onto Beckton. Following a competition, which also featured Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects, Patel Taylor and Arup Associates as finalists, MBM
1-2. Plans and schematics from the 1999 document Newham’s Arc of Opportunity
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