as an online talk community radio station run entirely by volunteers, with studios in several East London boroughs. Public sector organisations Public sector organisations active in the cluster included: City of London Corporation – assisted in the creation of the Innovation Warehouse Tech City Investment Organisation (TCIO) – a quango founded by then UK Government department UK Trade & Investment to encourage the growth and development of the Tech City cluster, since rolled out nationally as Tech Nation (NDPB). Housing As the cluster expands, a number of developments have been/or are due to be built, such as by ASAP Member Cuckooz, who launched its latest design-led apartments in 2018, targeted towards the tech companies and offer apartments in a renovated art deco style cinema dating back to 1870, and features a new arthouse cinema on the ground floor. While, the Atlas Building on Old Street has full planning permission and is substantially already pre-sold on the market. and The Maker, which is situated on Nile Street close to City Road on the very edge of Tech City and designed by Avanti Architects, which is underdevelopment and will provide 175 apartments within a 28-storey tower and connected low-rise building. Responses The rapid growth of the cluster has met with some criticism. The Centre for London think tank said in 2012 that it felt the development had little focus and could be counter-productive. The think tank also raised concerns over a skills shortage, connectivity, lack of mentoring and rising costs. Also that year Tech City was called a "marketing gimmick" on the wrong side of London, away from Heathrow Airport, which is still over 30% more expensive than any city outside London. James Dyson criticised the coalition government in 2012 for spending money on the scheme to attract international companies who Dyson argued would drive up rents instead of helping start-up and hardware companies, who he felt had greater potential than software and internet companies. Transport London Underground Northern line (City branch) and National Rail Northern City Line which is operated by Great Northern provide services at Old Street. With the increase in passenger numbers using the station, in 2014 Transport for London announced that it was to offer pop-up retail space at Old Street station as part of a drive to increase its revenue. See also Financial technology Silicon Fen Silicon Glen MediaCityUK The Sharp Project References Further reading External links