Where else in London is there a brownfield site that offers opportunities as exciting as the Rail Lands? Falling wholly within Newham, this large site forms a natural link between several London boroughs. But for 150 years it has been closed to the public. Once opened up, it will connect districts that have long been separated. There will be new roads and bus routes, and walking and cycling in the area will become quicker, easier and more pleasant. This alone will reinvigorate life in East London.

Also fortunate is the fact that the Rail Lands have remained intact, under a single ownership, making planning on a large scale far easier. Uncontaminated by heavy industries, the site is ideal for development, but still needs a lot of preparation. The estimated cost of putting in new roads, burying overhead power lines, setting up services such as water and sewerage, and accommodating railway lines is over £300 million. However, starting from scratch means that the infrastructure can be organised in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way. Also, because the land will be raised across the whole site, existing railway lines will have ready-made cuttings, which can be covered and built over.

The Rail Lands form part of the Lower Lea Valley, a swathe of London that runs down to the Thames from Hackney Wick and Stratford, with the River Lea – unusually for London’s smaller rivers – flowing through it above ground. The area’s river and canal system is one of its most beautiful and under-used assets, and the development will revive local waterways, taking great care to protect the wetland ecology and wildlife. Water, a defining feature of the Rail Lands, will be an important element in the Stratford City landscape.

The Rail Lands site is rare indeed; a vacant space in the middle of the city, it is inspiring both for its position and for its open skies, water and natural features.