A UK Land Grab?

In July 2005, London en masse celebrated winning the right to host the 2012 Olympics. Since then, the hosting of the games has been much discussed: this article is concerned not with the wider issues but with the ODA`s need to buy land to deliver the infrastructure.The bid team identified a 306 hectare zone of UK land in east London to host the Olympic village and the main stadia. This was not in the traditional sense land for sale so upon winning the games, the London Development Agency (LDA) invoked compulsory purchase orders on some of the relevant UK land sites in the zone.Through a combination of existing ownership and buying land, ninety percent of the required 306 hectare zone of UK land in east London is now in public hands primed for Olympics infrastructure. The cost of buying land was not included in the original budget (the talents of the bid team did not apparently extend to basic financial forecasting), and it is not only land for sale in the Olympics zone which has been acquired.Additional UK land sites have been purchased in order to relocate businesses which operated in the Olympic zone: to some there is an irony that one of the main intended legacies of the Olympics is job creation whilst simultaneously displacing businesses onto UK land sites in other parts of the country. The total cost of acquiring all the necessary UK land is thought to be around £1 billion.There have however been objections, not only to the perceived UK `land grab` from powerless businesses and individuals, but also to alleged profiteering through buying land on the periphery of the zone by the LDA to benefit from future rises in the value of that development land.The fact that this is not land for sale on the open market means that prices may not reflect the true value of the development land. The allegation, then, is that the Olympics have become a Trojan horse for companies involved in property development: there is a huge opportunity to acquire investment land with huge property and development potential at bargain prices.The mayor`s Olympics adviser Neale Coleman disputes this claim: "...it would be absurd to be trying to buy land that is not absolutely necessary to deliver the Olympics". A spokesman for the London delivery insisted it was offering market value when buying land in the zone.It has not at all times been plain sailing for the LDA when buying land. In February 2007 the LDA`s efforts to buy land used for allotments in the Manor Gardens area of Waltham Forest was rejected by land use planning officers at Waltham Forest Town Hall.

London Restaurants

Conran Restaurants, now known as D&D London was founded in 1991. It is now one of Europe`s - if not the World`s - leading quality restaurant groups. D&D owns and operates restaurants in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Copenhagen.In the early `90s, eating out in London exploded in popularity and it fair to say that the Conran group, under the leadership of Chairman Sir Terence Conran and CEO Des Gunewardena, led from the front.Conran Restaurants are arguably responsible for influencing diners from around the world. The restaurants have been at the forefront of the restaurant revolution in the capital and around the country, combining excellent food and superb service with an unrivalled contemporary design.You`ll find that each restaurant within the group is individual in terms of food, ambience & design. A great experience in London dining.The Group has opened a string of highly successful London restaurants, including Quaglino`s (my personal favorite), Plateau, Butlers Wharf Chop House, Blue Print Cafe, Cantina del Ponte, Floridita, Bluebird, Orrery, Sartoria, Coq d`Argent, Le Pont de la Tour & the very popular Paternoster Chop House.The first overseas venture was in 1998 when they opened Alcazar in Paris. Guastavino`s in New York (2000) was next and, in 2006, Custom house in Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen.Together with their Japanese partners, Hiramatsu Incorporated, D&D opened two restaurants, Botanica and Iconic, in Tokyo (2007). The Group diversified into hotels and one of their major achievements was the redevelopment of the Great Eastern Hotel in London eating Liverpool Street. They did this with their US partners and it re-opened in 2000 but was sold on in 2006 to Hyatt Hotels.In 2006 Conran`s Chairman & CEO, Des Gunewardena and Managing Director David Loewi - along with their management team and financial backers - acquired a 49% stake in the restaurants. The Group changed its name to D&D London and became an independently managed business.D&D London today owns and operates 30-plus restaurants with aggregate revenues of circa. £75m per annum.

Visiting London s Different Restaurants

From the, twice daily, menu changing at the Anchor and Hope to the treasure trove of a wine list at Cambio de Tercio, London really has some special restaurants. Visiting Grosvenor Square you`ll find Maze which if you can put up with the noise offers a menu of great small courses or for a romantic retreat Andrew Edmunds in Lexington Street offers efficient service with some food sourced locally.The long-established Italian restaurant Enoteca Turi in Putney High Street offers imaginative sauces with pasta dishes based from the Apulia region, while Locanda Locatelli in Seymour Street offers the traditional four-course Italian meal with bread made beautifully. With stunning river views and 5-star customer care Bateaux London from the Victoria Embankment enjoy the refreshing set-menu with their lunchtime cruise.Only minutes from Wapping Underground, enjoy River View Chinese on New Crane Place for excellent authentic Chinese cuisine or what about Pearl in High Holborn for the breathtaking décor and exceptional service standards.London`s oldest French restaurant Mon Plaisir in Covent Garden has been providing genuine French cuisine in an excellent French atmosphere for over fifty years. Providing live jazz and being one of the most popular and well established Italian restaurants in the East End La Lanterna in Tower Bridge provides some of the best Italian food in London.If your looking for a no-booking policy try Magdalen in Tooley Street for their ground-floor dining area. The Ledbury in Ledbury Road offer classic cooking with great service. Try Indian Zing on King Street for an exciting modern feel with a true understanding of the Indian regions or SuperStar Excel the converted warehouse in Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock North a refreshingly stylish Chinese restaurant with a great atmosphere and excellent service.Apollonia, being established in chinese food London , is probably the most famous Greek Taverna restaurant in London providing excellent cuisine from their Percy Street location. With the same owner for the last 26 years, Il Falconiere in Old Brompton Road, provides you with a beautiful setting, great food as well as friendly staff.Within just five minutes walk of Bond Street, Feng Wei on New Cavendish Street is an intimate Chinese restaurant specializing in excellent value traditional Chinese food or with live piano music being provided try the Bombay Brasserie on Courtfield Road Kensington for some great Indian cooking.