11 March 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Herbert Smith has advised Stratford City Developments Limited in securing planning permission for the £4 billion Stratford City regeneration project. Planning permission was granted by Newham Council on 17 February following the completion of a section 106 agreement negotiated by Herbert Smith.
Stratford City is one of the largest planning applications ever seen in this country and the outline planning permission provides for 13.5 million square feet of development on a 170-acre site, including 5 million square feet of offices, 1.6 million square feet of retail and 4,850 new homes.
The agreement was completed on the day that members of the International Olympic Committee visited Stratford as part of their assessment of London’s 2012 bid. If London wins the bid, Stratford City will form part of the Olympic Village and the Olympic International Zone.
The agreement secures a package of community benefits valued at more than £120 million plus 1,455 new affordable homes. These benefits include new secondary and primary schools, proposals for the expansion of Stratford Regional Station, a bridge link to integrate the development with Stratford town centre, two new bus stations and more than 150,000 square feet of new open space.
Keith Hill MP, Minister for Housing and London, described Stratford City as “a dynamic new urban hub with diverse, exciting public spaces, as well as thousands of new homes and leisure facilities breathing new life into East London.”
Completion of the section 106 agreement and the grant of planning permission is the culmination of more than three years of work by Herbert Smith’s planning group. The team comprised partner Patrick Robinson, senior associate Matthew White and associate Nicholle Howard.
Matthew White commented:
“Herbert Smith is proud to be involved with this incredible project, which is key to the government’s plans for regeneration of the Thames Gateway and also to London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have worked incredibly hard to secure planning permission for our clients, particularly on the negotiation of the section 106 agreement, which may well be the largest ever completed.”
Jocelyn Denton of York-based firm Rollitts advised the London Borough of Newham. Judith Damerell of Eversheds advised Transport for London.
