Strategy for assembling land in the Lower Lea Valley to deliver the Olympic Park masterplan and create a new piece of city that delivers a highly successful legacy

In 2005, our Compulsory Purchase team began advising the Olympic & Paralympic Games Bid Team about the strategy for assembling land in the Lower Lea Valley to deliver the Olympic Park masterplan and create a new piece of city that delivers a highly successful legacy. Since then, we have implemented the strategy to acquire land interests across the area.

Our strategy had to reflect the exceptionally high profile that was given to acquiring land to host the Olympics and the immovable end date of the programme. Our client, the London Development Agency (LDA), had to deliver the land as quickly as possible and to progress negotiations to secure successful business relocations. The pace and approach to land acquisition generated widespread media and political coverage, adding to the pressure on our team to deliver.

We provided procedural and compensation advice on an initial compulsory purchase order (CPO) to divert 6km of overhead power lines between Hackney and West Ham, and subsequently on the main CPO to enable construction of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to commence in 2007.

We negotiated early acquisitions and compensation claims with over 100 separate property interests and the relocation of over 75 industrial and commercial occupiers. Where it was not possible to settle by agreement, we represented the LDA (and its successor, the GLA) in Lands Tribunal hearings. We dealt with a very diverse range of businesses, including bus garages, newspaper printworks, travellers’ sites, a church and heavy industrial users.

We are extremely proud of our role in ensuring that construction of the park was completed in time for the Opening Ceremony in July 2012 and the amazing scenes that followed. We are delighted to have been part of the area’s transformation in achieving the highly successful Games and legacy.

“Deloitte Real Estate has the unique ability to offer high quality development consultancy advice alongside ‘big four’ strength in corporate and financial analysis. This is important when an advisor is working with you to make sure that taxpayer’s money is invested wisely.” Gareth Blacker, Director of Development – Olympics, London Development Agency/Olympic Delivery Authority (2005-2009)