Opinion

Olympic legacy continues to shape Stratford and east London

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Almost exactly 14 years ago, London hosted one of the most successful Olympic Games in history.

With hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world, it shone a bright light on our great city and reinforced why it is one of the greatest in the world.

This Olympic legacy is something all Londoners can be proud of. It showed what our city is capable of when ambition is matched with real delivery.

Tasked with hosting huge crowds and carrying the weight of global attention, Stratford was transformed.

It brought significant investment in transport infrastructure, new leisure and cultural opportunities, improvements to public spaces, and the delivery of new homes on a scale not previously seen.

Unmesh Desai AM says that regeneration of areas must work with local communities (Image: City Hall)

For many, these changes brought real and lasting benefits, and areas that were once overlooked are now destinations for residents and visitors alike.

In many ways, this is a story of opportunity.

Better connectivity has created access to jobs, increased demand for homes and helped establish new communities.

It shows that investment in east London can deliver real benefits for local people, not just developers.

When I first began campaigning to move London East, the aim was to bring councils across the area together to attract investment and drive improvements of this kind.

Since then, we have seen a significant transformation, with new data showing that deprivation across London has fallen from 26% in 2010 to 16% today.

Much of this progress has been driven by sustained investment and long-term planning across east London.

But there are still important lessons to learn.

As London continues to grow, just as it has in areas like Stratford, we must ensure regeneration works with local communities rather than happening to them.

That means protecting affordable housing, supporting local businesses, investing in youth services, and ensuring residents have a genuine voice in shaping the future of their neighbourhoods.

Stratford’s story is one of opportunity, but it also presents a challenge.

Change must be felt by the people who were there before and during transformation, not just those who arrive once the work is done.

Unmesh Desai is Labour London Assembly member for City and East.

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