Housing Minister Kris Hopkins MP met with Stratford Halo residents on a tour of the award-winning housing development at the heart of the Olympic regeneration area.

The minister, accompanied by staff from Genesis Housing Association, spent an hour visiting a range of locations and talking to residents at the multi-tenure scheme, which offers over 700 homes on the outskirts of the Olympic Park.

The visit kicked off with the unveiling of a special plaque followed by a visit to Amber Court, which offers 65 self-contained flats and specialist care for older people and people with disabilities. After coffee with residents and guests in the restaurant area, the minister was then taken to visit an Amber Court resident in his flat. The tour concluded at the top of the 43 storey tower overlooking the Olympic Park, which forms the centrepiece of the scheme.

Stratford Halo is a landmark development spread over 3.3 acres less than 500m from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It offers a range of homes including private and social rent, shared ownership, extra care and homes for sale.

The east London development was built by Genesis in 2011 and attracted a £125m institutional investment that will enable them to develop 3,000 new homes over the next three years using the release of the capital from the development.

Neil Hadden, Chief Executive of Genesis Housing Association, said: “Today was a welcome opportunity to showcase the dramatic transformation which has taken place on this site to create a diverse and thriving community. Stratford Halo is one of our flagship developments and we’re delighted that the minister had a chance to meet residents today and see the diverse mix of homes and services on offer.”

Kris Hopkins said: “Housing is a critical part of the 2012 legacy and our long-term economic plan, providing places to live in the heart of the former Olympic village.

“So I was delighted to visit the Stratford Halo development to see for myself the high quality of the properties available, and meet the residents who are able to rent their homes on the outskirts of the Park.

“We’re investing £1billion through our Build to Rent fund to deliver newly-built homes specifically for private rent in London and across the country. Stratford Halo is a shining example of what we want to achieve.”