East London was traditionally the capital’s industrial powerhouse but shifting economic realities – and the logistics of the shipping industry – have left the area as one of the more depressed parts of the city.

In an effort to turn around its fortunes, City Hall and Newham Borough Council have been working with Siemens which plans to build a £30m exhibition and conference centre in the area, as the flagship building of the new Green Enterprise District, which will stretch across East London.

The plan is to tap into the potential from undeveloped industrial land to attract new investment, up to 6,000 green collar jobs and develop new low carbon skills.

Siemens plans to create an iconic building as a showcase for sustainable technologies and a destination for the public, customers and students to meet and explore the innovation required to achieve a low carbon society.

It will be built near the existing ExCel centre and London Airport.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, used the announcement to underpin a speech at the BASE London conference said: “A century ago, we were cashing in on carbon, yet now there are clear economic opportunities coming from getting rid of it.

“I want London to be ahead of the queue, grasping a significant share of the jobs and economic booty arising from this new generation of low carbon goods and services.

“It is a clear sign of the confidence in London’s ability to nurture and support eco-enterprises that Siemens has chosen to locate its flagship centre of sustainability here in the UK capital.

The Siemens Pavilion is set to sit at the heart of a brand new Green Enterprise District, which will sweep across east of the city.

We envisage that the district will be a vibrant, international hub incubating dozens of low carbon businesses to transform what has historically been some of the poorest parts of the capital. ”

Siemens boss Andreas Goss said: “Our aim is to create an attractive focal point that celebrates London’s ambition and leadership in green technologies and sustainability.

“Siemens is at the heart of providing sustainable solutions from renewable energy generation, to low-carbon transport and urban infrastructure.

“I hope the Siemens Pavilion will act as a catalyst for wider community involvement in the debate about how we best address the challenge of climate change in our cities.”

Sam Bond

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