A local MP has called on the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to reject Madison Square Garden Company’s (MSG) plans to build the MSG Sphere.
Labour MP for West Ham, Lyn Brown tweeted “This monstrous glowing orb makes a mockery of East London’s Olympic legacy” with a link to a piece she had authored for the Guardian.
The LLDC planning committee is now set to convene to make a ruling on the MSG Sphere, set to be located in the 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford, on September 28, with a final decision to then be made by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Brown wrote: “I have had serious concerns for some time about the value of this proposed development, the degree of community consent it has involved and the harm it may do to people in Stratford and neighbouring areas. Newham doesn’t want this venue, yet it’s the LLDC, not Newham council, that gets to recommend to Sadiq Khan whether it is built. I don’t believe that’s fair or right.
“Many local residents have clear and serious objections to the light and noise pollution this development would cause, as well as the potential for increased antisocial behaviour and traffic. The giant venue will beam bright lights into the surrounding area until 11pm on some days.
“I’m calling on the LLDC to refuse the application and protect Newham’s residents from yet another inappropriate development. I would hope they would listen to and act on what elected representatives say. Securing some of the promised benefits of the Olympic legacy depends upon it.”
Plans for the MSG Sphere were originally presented in 2018, with the decision on the potential venue postponed last year due to the impact of Covid-19.
The MSG Sphere will be a video screen covered venue, built in the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford. MSG Entertainment says it could be a “state of the art music and entertainment venue that will pioneer the next generation of immersive experiences, and create unforgettable moments for fans from the UK and around the world”.
Live entertainment company AEG has already announced its displeasure with the proposal and has also asked for the plans to be rejected, partly due to the potential orb’s relative proximity to The O2.
