Losing Stratford

        As Stratford undergoes massive changes, one thing is clear : soon enough the working class will not be able to afford living in Stratford. 

Although Stratford has always been an area populated with lower class citizens, just like the entire east part of London, lately, new developments like Westfield, The Olympic Park, and the new neighbourhoods in Chobham Manor, are changing Stratford from a once inexpensive and unattractive area into a fancy upscale residence for upper-class people.

Even though this might be seen as a much needed change in East London, the reality is that underneath all the recently opened expensive shops and modern building, Stratford is still very much inhabited by people who work on low wages. An issue that is being realised by this conflict of class is that due to the new investments, prices in Stratford are on the rise and will continue to rise until the point where the majority of working class inhabitants will not be able to afford living in the area and they might be forced to move further east.

This gentrification process is especially harmful to the lower class which feel a historical and cultural bond to Stratford, which is being threatened by ‘’big cats’’ with pockets full of money. 

While its image grows into a a newly formed modern part of London, Stratford still carries with it a significant cultural importance to that might be more important than luxury shops and modern building. 

The issue at hand is not to stop the developments in Stratford, but rather find a way do modernise it and still maintaining its historical heritage.

by Sebastian Nita