Stratford City is London's largest retail-led urban regeneration scheme and is situated next to the site of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The £1.45 billion centre is due to open in the first half of 2011 and will offer an unrivalled retail, leisure and entertainment experience to 3.9 million Londoners in the east of the city.
Mr. Johnson said: "Westfield's Stratford City project is setting the pace for the transformation of east London. It is one of the most important legacies of the 2012 Olympics. It will create 18,000 jobs and, as a result of Westfield's investment, have some of the most modern additions to London's public transport infrastructure."
Mr. Michael Gutman, Westfield's Managing Director, UK and Europe, said: "Our two retail schemes in the capital - Westfield London in W12, which will open on 30 October and Stratford City in E15 - will have a significant regenerative impact on London, creating 25,000 new jobs when completed. Also, as a result of major improvements in transport infrastructure they will be the two best connected malls in Britain."
The Mayor was told about plans by Westfield to encourage the growth of new local small businesses. There will be 50,000 sq ft of space set aside at Stratford City for small businesses and subsidised rents will be available over five years for incubator units.
Mr Johnson also heard that the development will adopt the highest principles of sustainable development. Buildings will incorporate energy saving, water conservation and waste management systems which will make big reductions in energy use.
A Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) plant, jointly procured with the Olympic Delivery Authority, will supply 75 per cent of the electrical power requirements of Stratford City which when linked to advanced building design will mean that the carbon footprint of the development will be dramatically reduced.
Also attending the Mayor's visit was Mr David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body charged with delivering the venues and infrastructure for London 2012, and Mr John Burton, Westfield's director in charge of the Stratford City project.
Mr Higgins said: "With attention now moving from Beijing to London this is a chance to demonstrate the real progress being made to deliver the new facilities needed for the 2012 Games and the long-term regeneration of east London. The progress Westfield has made on the Stratford City development is very impressive and together with the key venues and infrastructure beginning to take shape on the Olympic Park, we are starting to see a lasting legacy for east London literally rising out of the ground."
