In message , Tom
Anderson writes

Anyway, i noticed, or was reminded, that stuff - including the
Stratford International station and perhaps some Olympic follies - is
being built on the 'Stratford rail lands'.

Part of the Olympic village will be on the former "rail lands" site, but
most of the site will become the Stratford City Development, once London
and Continental Railways vacate it in the next year. After the Olympics,
the village is planned to form permanent dwellings that will be part of
this development.

Most of the Olympics facilities are immediately to the north and west of
this, in the Lower Lea Valley.

What exactly are these?

Former railway marshalling yards (about 180 acres of them).

What's there now?

The CTRL Stratford International station works.

What was there before? Are or have any freight-related facilities been
moved or closed because of these plans?

The marshalling yards have been derelict for a very long time.

Also, while we're at it, to what extent can and is the Olympic project
being funded by value capture in the regeneration area?

None, AFAIK. The project is being funded by £1.5 billion from the
National Lottery, £625 million from London Council Tax payers and £250
million from taxpayers at large, through the London Development Agency.
When the lottery fails to raise enough money, it is expected that London
Council Taxpayers will have to meet the shortfall, on top of the
ten-year levy already planned.

--
Paul Terry