Stratford Sphere Venue Plans Officially Withdrawn By Us Firm

[naomi24]

//The US company behind a proposed Las Vegas-style "Sphere" venue in east London has withdrawn its plans.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) said it could not participate in a process that was "merely a political football between rival parties".   In December, Housing Secretary Michael Gove used his powers to review the rejection of planning permission by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. 

In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate, MSG said it was "extremely disappointing" that Londoners would "not benefit from the Sphere's groundbreaking technology and the thousands of well-paying jobs it would have created".

The letter said: "I write to confirm that we are officially withdrawing our application from the Planning Inspectorate process.

"After spending millions of pounds acquiring our site in Stratford and collaboratively engaging in a five-year planning process with numerous governmental bodies, including the local planning authority who approved our plans following careful review, we cannot continue to participate in a process that is merely a political football between rival parties."//

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67920774

 

What with his extortionately prohibitive taxes on motorists and now blocking what would have been an enormous source of income for the city - not to mention jobs to help re-generate one of the poorest areas in the capital - the ever self-serving Sadiq Khan has proven himself to be London's worst enemy.  Has he any chance of re-election?  I sincerely hope not.

[naomi24]

2,700 out of a population of over 360,000 - yes, the locals were definitely against it.  🙄

[jno]

you haven't answered the question, though: would you want it over the road from you?

I wouldn't. It looks hideous. If I wanted to live in Las Vegas I'd go there.

Here it is, lit up for Independence Day

http://tinyurl.com/mryttks4

[naomi24]

Yes, I've seen that, Jno.  As for the rest, see NJ's post.  He explains the location.  It wouldn't have been 'over the road' for anyone.  A missed opportunity.  

[237SJ]

It's really ugly. The space could be used for something much more low key - the ABBA Arena is an example and brings loads of people into the area without being an eyesore.  It's an American company and they will only be interested in one thing $$$$.  One thing's for sure, they wouldn't have allowed that in NY where Madison Square Garden is.

[Countrylover]

I too agree with Peter and I also think like OĢ that it would look horrendous and  very out of place.  Looks like something from an  space movie!

[Countrylover]

Jno.  Big brother's watching you.  I find that menacing!

[pastafreak]

I don't think you'd need to be all that close to it to actually see it. 100m high by 120m wide...1 million LED panels.

[Countrylover]

Exactly Pasta.

[naomi24]

Perhaps it's just me and a few others who recognise the loss in regeneration and jobs to a seriously poor area of London then.  

[THECORBYLOON]

NAOMI, "2,700 out of a population of over 360,000" is the figure of 360,000 correct?

[jno]

Countrylover, the plan was to have that lit up (not necessarily with the all-seeing eye) all night. It was to be higher than Big Ben.

Not in my backyard, thanks, I like my sleep.

[237SJ]

They said it would provide thousands of jobs.  Yes, while it was being built but there wouldn't be thousands of people working in it long term.

[237SJ]

In fact, I doubt it would be thousands of jobs - hundreds maybe

[Countrylover]

I feel sure that those who think it it was a good idea would be Nimbies if they were faced with that  monstrosity anywhere  near them.  

[naomi24]

Corby, that's the 2022 figure according to the Office for National Statistics.

[THECORBYLOON]

Is that the figure for the Borough it's in, rather than Stratford?

[jno]

as far as I can see, the population of the main wards near the proposed dome, Stratford and Maryland, comes to about 25,000 altogether.

http://citypopulation.de/en/uk/london/wards/

[naomi24]

It's the figure for Newham, Corby. 
 

[Untitled]

"2,700 out of a population of over 360,000 - yes, the locals were definitely against it. "

the petition in favour drew 88... as far as i can tell there was no locally organised campaign in favour of the sphere either so it does not seem anyone was enthusiastic enough to make the case for it

the site is very valuable and still available... i doubt it's going to remain vacant for very long. a developer that respects the rules will be given the opportunity and that's a good thing. then the jobs and investment can go toward something that people actually want.
 

stratford does not need or seem to want a gigantic omnidirectional advertising screen. fortunately it won't get one. 

[naomi24]

//stratford does not need or seem to want a gigantic omnidirectional advertising screen//

 

Or more correctly, Mr Khan doesn't want it.  Maybe he doesn't like the idea of foreign investment - even if it would benefit London as a whole and a poor area in particular.