Olympics London site, 2012

This is a photographic essay documenting a part of Britain’s future Olympic redevelopment located in the Lea Valley, East End of London.

The cordon for the time being consists of around 73% wasteland which serves as a crucial habitat to wildlife also has a river rich in amphibian inhabitants which runs through the land.

The construction will cost between an estimated £3 and £5 billion and a further £10 billion is believed will be necessary for regenerating the local infrastructure. Many issues of uncertainty regarding the Olympic site’s completion deadlines have been creating a stir in the media, and these doubts are further compounded when discussions of the Olympic aftermath arise.

£4 billion has already been invested by Stratford City developments on a housing project bordering the Olympics cordon into Stratford

The games will unquestionably have an immense impact on their environment but the questions remain, will the financial investments made to the area continue to have a sustaining positive effect on building and fulfilling so many promises made of renewal, or is it possible that the area may suffer from a ‘drought’ once the sporting event has concluded?

My journey through the area led me to meet some of the gypsies who have lived in an area of land off Clays lane near ‘Hackney Wick’ for over 15 years now next to the allotments.

A kindly matriarch figure to their community named Teresa who was suffering from severe hip pains confided to me over a mug of coffee her concerns regarding the imminent eviction date in which over 400 of their community’s inhabitants were to be moved. Entire streets have been boarded and left barren in preparation for the area’s closure, and only time will tell whether the investments and sacrifice will prove to be a success or whether England’s capital will once again witness another financial ‘Millenium Dome’ catastrophy.