News Release
2 March 2015
BALFOUR BEATTY SIGNS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR MAJOR
LONDON OLYMPIC LEGACY HOUSING REGENERATION PROJECT
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces it has signed a development agreement with the London Legacy Development Corporation to invest and construct the new East Wick and Sweetwater housing development project.
Balfour Beatty Investments will provide up to £35 million of equity over eight years, representing 50% of the equity required. Balfour Beatty's UK construction business will deliver all construction, which is expected to generate approximately £400 million of revenue.
The transformational project at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London is being delivered in a 50:50 joint venture with Places for People (PfP). It will create two new neighbourhoods, to be called East Wick and Sweetwater, with up to 1,500 homes including 450 affordable homes, 530 homes for private sale and 500 private rented sector homes.
East Wick will have up to 850 homes including townhouses, mews, studios and flats and a new nursery and Sweetwater will have up to 650 homes and will include studios, apartments and family homes with private gardens, a new nursery, library and a health centre. Both communities will have a range of shops, restaurants, offices, workshops and new public open spaces.
The development will be constructed in phases over eight years with Balfour Beatty's UK construction business delivering all of the construction. Around 50 apprenticeships will be created along with 350 construction jobs at the peak of construction. PfP will manage sales and letting, deliver housing and operational services and take ownership of the affordable housing.
Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive said: "This project marks our entry as an investor and developer into the UK's regeneration and housing sector. This market is growing and offers significant opportunities for the Group in the coming years.
"I look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation to ensure that commitments made as part of the London 2012 Games are delivered by not only creating new communities but also new jobs, and apprenticeships for young people wanting to join the growing infrastructure sector. With our partner, Places for People, we are very excited to be able to create these new, vibrant, sustainable communities for East London."
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "This is the most successful and fastest growing city anywhere in Europe, and it is absolutely vital we provide thousands of new houses to allow people to live close to their places of work. I am thrilled to confirm we have now appointed high quality developers to help bring forward plans for these important new neighbourhoods on our iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a whopping six years ahead of target."
David Cowans, chief executive at Places for People, said: "This is East London's moment and it's our big moment too and we are thrilled to have been selected to be part of the transformation of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. With our partner, Balfour Beatty, we have the perfect opportunity to work with LLDC to create a truly unique and exciting place to live. This is exactly what Places for People is about, making great places and ensuring that the true Legacy of 2012 lives on by creating opportunities for the existing communities around the park to share in its success."
ENDS
Investor enquiries:
Peter Young/ Anoop Kang
Balfour Beatty plc
Tel. +44 (0)20 7216 6913
Media enquiries:
Dominic Cheetham
Tel. +44 20 7963 4235
[email protected]
Notes to editors:
1. Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group. With 36,000 employees, we provide innovative and efficient infrastructure that underpins our daily lives, supports communities and enables economic growth.
We finance, develop, build and maintain complex infrastructure such as transportation, power and utility systems, social and commercial buildings. Our main geographies are the UK, US, Middle East and South East Asia. Over the last 100 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world including the London Olympics' Aquatic Centre, Hong Kong's first Zero Carbon building, the world's biggest shopping mall in Dubai, the National Museum of the Marine Corps in the US and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Balfour Beatty is also currently working on the Olympic Stadium transformation project for the London Legacy Development Corporation.
2. The London Legacy Development Corporation promotes and delivers physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the surrounding area, in particular by maximising the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For more information visit QueenElizabethOlympicPark.co.uk, follow us on Twitter @noordinarypark and like us on Facebook facebook.com/QueenElizabethOlympicPark.
3. Places for People is one of the largest residential property development, management and regeneration companies operating across the UK delivering strategic land placemaking, master planning, development and property management. The not-for-dividend Group owns and manages 143,000 homes and provides housing including homes for sale, market and affordable rent. Uniquely the Group manages residential properties in all tenures and is one of the UK's largest managers of private rented homes and leasehold properties.
Places for People owns and manages properties across a number of London boroughs and is part of the partnership to deliver the first phase of the residential homes at Ruskin Square in East Croydon.
Places for People is committed to creating successful places and enabling people to reach their potential. Places for People makes a long-term commitment to its communities and works to provide what they need to thrive; not only today but for future generations. Its developments are not just about housing but new schools, shops, leisure facilities, employment, access to training and specialist services. www.placesforpeople.com
