'Get on with it' Ken tells Gateway developers.

Speaking exclusively to Property Week after delivering his address to developers at the Thames Gateway Forum Ken Livingstone said the money is now there to deliver the regeneration of the area.

‘After years and years we have now got the investment that guarantees we can move forward,’ he said. ‘The government is also giving me control of the housing budget.

‘We’ve got the money there now so let’s get on and deliver it.’

Livingstone was speaking after addressing delegates in the Excel conference centre in the Docklands this morning.

Vision
In the address he set out his vision for the future of the Thames Gateway – a variety of communities with interlinking parks and Green spaces.

‘London is the fastest growing city in Europe or North America and we now have the chance to accommodate much of this growth in the Thames gateway,’ he said. ‘Nowhere else offers the brownfield land and the public transport capacity needed.

‘And nowhere else has the same opportunities to create a high quality of life around the river, new parks and renewed town centres.’

Transport funds
He also said more funds committed by the government today to the transport system made the land an ideal place for investment.

‘The transport infrastructure has taken great leaps forward and we have huge benefits that will flow from the investment in the Olympics and the new Crossrail link.

‘Only today the government has agreed additional transport funding enabling us to deliver a new, fast, frequent and reliable transit service for existing and future communities in the Barking Riverside area.

‘The public investment now committed is unprecedented and a firm foundation for the high quality development we now want to see.’