The Olympics – Going for Gold and What Else? Can London 2012 Urban Regeneration Legacy Be Considered As Sustainable Development?
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The Olympics – Going for gold and what else? Can London 2012 urban regeneration legacy be considered as sustainable development? James Cunningham Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science, No 2014:033 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Lund University International Master’s Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (30hp/credits) LUCSUS Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies The Olympics - Going for gold and what else? Can London 2012 urban regeneration legacy be considered as sustainable development? James Cunningham A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Lund University International Master’s Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science Submitted May 15, 2014 Supervisor: Chad Boda, LUCSUS, Lund University (This page is intentionally left blank) 2 Abstract: Olympic legacy was previously seen as a potential burden on the host city, however an evolutionary shift has occurred whereby it can now be regarded as an instrument in wider urban policy planning. Sustainable development is a requirement set by some governments, and London 2012 aimed to use the Olympic legacy for sustainable development in the form of urban regeneration. This paper is a case study of the London 2012 Olympics, using mixed methods involving interview, documents and personal observations. The focus is on the potential for mega sporting events such as the Olympics to contribute to sustainable urban development, and the London case, is used as an example of how this potential can be realised, and what problems it can occur. Within this, I analyse the concept of legacy itself, before using that definition to understand the sustainability of the London Olympics via the three pillars of sustainable development (Environment, Social and Economic). Each pillar was critically analysed highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the London Olympics towards sustainable development. Environmentally the focus was directed towards construction and renewable energy. Emphasis regarding social aspects was concentrated on issues such as gentrification and sports participation and the effect of using temporary venues. Economic legacy is the most researched aspect and therefore this paper does not just regurgitate monetary values. Instead it analyses the employment legacy, which is vital when investigating local economic impacts. This paper takes steps towards understanding Olympic regeneration and concludes that the desired goal of sustainable development within this is still a utopian prospect, and that more analysis is needed before it can be considered as a utilitarian practice. It has however, underlined a variety of the different strengths and weaknesses of current approaches, which if adapted can enhance sustainable regeneration further. Keywords: Olympics; Sustainable Development; Mega Events; Urban Regeneration; Legacy; London 2012; Urban Renewal; Sustainability Word Count: 14,200 Acknowledgements I would like to say thanks to my supervisor, Chad Boda, and my mother, Liz Cunningham, for their continued support and help throughout the thesis process. 3 (This page is intentionally left blank) 4 List of Figures and Tables Figure 1 – Legacy cube Figure 2 – 1968 black power salute photograph Figure 3 – Deprivation of London host boroughs Figure 4 – Aerial image of Olympic Park Figure 5 – London Olympic Park map Figure 6 – Before/after photograph of Olympic Park site Figure 7 – Olympic Village photo Figure 8 – Olympic parklands photo Figure 9 – Lea Navigation canal photo Figure 10 – Here East artist visualisation Figure 11 – Artist visualisation of Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre Figure 12 – LOCOG waste hierarchy Figure 13 – LOCOG aims, vision and objectives Figure 14 – LOCOG material design, construction and dismantling hierarchy Figure 15 – Temporary venue life cycle Figure 16 – Old Building in Hackney Figure 17 – New apartments in Hackney Figure 18 – Temporary seating/Overlay area at previous 4 Olympics Table 1 – Five dimensions of legacy Table 2 – Key concerns of urban regeneration Table 3 – Olympic housing information Table 4 – Olympic venue facts Table 5 – Types of Olympic economic impacts 5 Table of Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.1 Sustainable Development ...................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Defining Legacy ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Defining Urban Regeneration ........................................................................................................................... 13 2 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Aim and Research Questions ............................................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Documents ............................................................................................................................................................ 15 2.2.2 Interviews ............................................................................................................................................................. 15 2.2.3 Personal Observations .................................................................................................................................... 16 3 Background of the Olympic Games ........................................................................................... 17 3.1 Ancient Games ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Modern Revival ............................................................................................................................................................ 17 3.3 Olympic Charter ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.4 Social Movements ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.5 Mass Media and Globalisation .............................................................................................................................. 19 3.6 Greening of the Games ......................................................................................................................................... 20 3.7 Olympics and Urban Development/Regeneration .................................................................................. 20 3.7.1 Four Phases of Olympic Urbanisation ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.8 Barcelona – Perfect Example of Urban Regeneration ............................................................................ 23 4 London Case Study .............................................................................................................................. 24 4.1 London Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 24 4.2 London Borough Backgrounds ........................................................................................................................... 24 4.3 Olympic Area ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 5 London Urban Renewal .................................................................................................................... 28 5.1 Housing ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29 5.2 Parklands ....................................................................................................................................................................... 30 5.3 Transport .................................................................................................................................................................. 31 5.4 Education ....................................................................................................................................................................... 31 5.5 Here East ................................................................................................................................................................... 32 5.6 Westfield ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33 6 Environmental Legacy ....................................................................................................................... 34