Yahoo Finance Affordable housing campaign launched for site of scrapped MSG Sphere in Stratford
Mayor of Newham Rokshana Fiaz has launched a campaign to build housing on the five acres of land previously earmarked for a controversial spherical arena covered in a light-up display.
She said that MSG withdrawing their application for the Sphere was “fantastic news” for Stratford residents.
“Newham is not another Las Vegas and the MSG Sphere structure — which would have been some 100 metres high and 120 metres wide — would have led to significant light intrusion for residents living in the area as well as negative health impacts,” said Fiaz.
“We’ll now be campaigning for the site to be designated a housing and employment inclusion zone because we want our residents to benefit from homes they can afford and jobs that will increase household incomes.”
Mayor Faiz, who campaigned against the Stratford Sphere, said it had always been unpopular with her constituents.
"Our residents have made clear their opposition to the MSG Sphere and I’m proud that they have a Council that has been campaigning to protect their welfare," she said.
"Our campaign has never been about being anti-business, as we welcome investment in Newham that supports our inclusive growth ambitions.
"But investment can’t be at the cost of the health and well-being of local residents."
Newham has the highest rates of homelessness in the country, with one in 21 people homeless according to Shelter.
The east London borough has been deeply impacted by the UK housing crisis, with house prices costing more than seven times the national income.
Rents have increased by 43 per cent in the borough since 2013, and Newham Council estimates that rent accounts for 65 per cent of residents’ wages, which are some of the lowest in London.
Almost half of Newham residents are in poverty once their housing costs are paid, according to the council.
Nate Higgins, the Green party councillor for Stratford Olympic Park, has called for the site to be used for social housing.
“It’s time for a proposal to come forward that actually contributes to solving Newham's problems, not making them so much worse,” said Higgins.
“The site can and should be used for social housing to help address Newham's desperate housing crisis, and I'm calling on Newham Council and the GLA [Greater London Authority] to work to ensure that happens."
US sports company MSG – aka Madison Square Garden – originally submitted a proposal for a 21,000-capacity arena clad in LED screens in Stratford in 2018.
Together with designers Populous, MSG has successfully built the Sphere in Las Vegas, a $2.3 billion 20,000-capacity domed arena off the Las Vegas strip that is clad in LED panels.
Light from the Las Vegas Sphere is visible from miles away, and the Stratford version would have been taller than the 96-metre-high Big Ben.
Residents’ concerns about light pollution were not alleviated by planning inspectors’ suggestion that MSG provide residents within a 150-metre radius of the arena with blackout curtains.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan rejected the planning application in November 2023 over the “significant light intrusion” the light-up façade would cause, commenting that it did not “constitute good and sustainable design”.
Housing secretary Michael Gove attempted to overturn the decision in December, writing to the London Legacy Development Corporation to prohibit it from implementing Khan’s refusal.
But MSG withdrew the planning application earlier this month.
A spokesperson said: "We have informed Mr. Gove that our decision not to move forward with our plans for Sphere in London stands, and we will not be participating in the call-in process.
"We would like to thank all of those who worked earnestly to bring this project to London.
"We are committed to continuing to work collaboratively with forward-thinking cities around the world who are serious about bringing this next-generation entertainment experience to their communities.”
