What is the Stratford MSG Sphere? Sadiq Khan rejected venue plans after epilepsy warning

A report commissioned by City Hall warned lights would affect people with 'mental health issues, dementia, autism, and epilepsy'
Evening Standard Staff21 November 2023

The Mayor of London has rejected plans to build a large entertainment arena called MSG Sphere on the border of the Olympic Park in Stratford.

Sadiq Khan blocked plans for a Las Vegas-style music venue after being warned its dazzling light shows could trigger fits in people with epilepsy, a report has revealed.

An independent report commissioned by City Hall that played a huge part in Mr Khan’s decision was obtained exclusively by the Standard.

The report, by WSP, said the Sphere, which would have been covered with exterior LED lights “the size of an ice hockey puck” to broadcast images externally, was likely to have “significant adverse effects” on people living nearby and on the “night-time environment”.

It added children and older people would be most affected, and people with mental health issues, dementia, autism, and epilepsy.

“Depending on individual sensitivity, flicker can have effects ranging from visual discomfort, fatigue and decreased visual performance to the onset of some forms of epileptic seizures,” the report said.

Residents would be “very much aware of its presence” and their homes would feel like an “entertainment venue”. As a result, people with anxiety might feel like a “prisoner in their own home”.

The worst-affected residents would be those in Unite Student accommodation, Legacy Tower/Stratford Central, Stratford Eye, and New Garden Quarter.

The arena would have been a replica of the giant concert venue in Las Vegas that went ahead despite complaints from residents in the area.

The project was estimated to cost £800 million.

Why is the MSG Sphere controversial?

While supporters of the project claim the arena would boost the capital’s economy by £2.5 billion, bringing in £50 million a year to local businesses and creating 1,200 jobs, there are many who are against it.

Firstly, locals are upset about how the gigantic arena might impact the infrastructure of Stratford and the immense light pollution its thousands of screens might cause.

Residents are worried about how the light and the foot traffic will impact their daily lives and homes.

Plus, some campaigners are worried about the Sphere’s potential impact on wildlife, with members of the London Assembly Environment Committee concluding that the arena would produce unacceptable light levels.

Aside from offering residents blackout blinds, the developers have said that they will limit the brightness of the venue according to the time of day.

What has London Mayor Sadiq Khan said about the sphere?

Mr Khan has previously been urged by City Hall politicians to refuse planning permission. In a previous report examining light pollution in London, the London Assembly Environment Committee advised Mr Khan to reject the scheme, “when and if” it is passed back to him, “to prevent light pollution impacts on the surrounding environment and residents”.

After rejecting the project, a spokesperson for Mr Khan said in a statement: "London is open to investment from around the world and Sadiq wants to see more world-class, ambitious, innovative entertainment venues in our city.

"But, as part of looking at the planning application for the MSG Sphere, the mayor has seen independent evidence that shows the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents."

After the report was published, Mr Khan, in his decision ordering the London Legacy Development Corporation to refuse planning permission, said this was because of the “significant light intrusion” that the Sphere would cause and the “detriment to human health”.

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