It’s been a big week for the Olympic Park this week.

Together with the Mayor of London, we announced the exciting news that Places for People and Balfour Beatty have been appointed to develop the 1,500 new homes that will make up the East Wick and Sweetwater neighbourhoods in the park.

Up to 30 per cent of the development will be affordable homes, there will be 500 private homes to rent and all of them are being delivered six years earlier than we had originally planned.

Residents of the new neighbourhoods can look forward to living in one of London’s most exciting new postcodes with new primary schools, nurseries and a health centre all opening for local people to use. There will also be opportunities for local businesses and independent shops to set up in what I’m sure will be thriving new neighbourhoods.

East Wick and Sweetwater are the second residential developments to be announced at the park. Work began last summer on the first new neighbourhood, Chobham Manor, and homes here are proving to be very popular with local people.

We’re looking forward to welcoming the first residents towards the end of this year; almost 150 people have already bought a home at Chobham Manor with some even camping overnight to secure their place.

Delivering new houses and neighbourhoods with a range of accommodation throughout the park and its neighbouring boroughs is a key part of the Legacy Corporation’s role. Through our own building programme and our role as a planning authority we expect to be able to deliver up to 24,000 new homes in and around the park, as well as new community facilities, by 2031.

We are determined to use the legacy of the Games to bring much needed jobs and housing to the area and this is another major step in meeting that commitment.

Alongside our plans to create a cultural and educational district in the park, this is a really exciting time to be a resident of Newham.