LDA brings together a world class consortium to plan Olympic legacy

The London Development Agency today announced that KCAP Architects & Planners, Allies & Morrison and EDAW will join forces as masterplanners for the Olympic site.

The trio will be working collaboratively in designing the framework of homes, parkland, schools, health facilities, infrastructure and workspace in the Lower Lea Valley which will be put in place following the 2012 Games.

One of their first responsibilities will be to meet with the area's local communities and three legacy working groups set up by the LDA in October to channel the vision of partners including the five host boroughs, Greater London Authority, and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

Their work will form the basis of an outline planning application in 2009 which will provide the context for what is the largest regeneration opportunity in inner London.

Manny Lewis, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, said:

"A once in a lifetime opportunity such as this demands the best people for the job. I am delighted we have managed to secure the talents of three superb companies working together to the benefit of Londoners now and for generations to come.

"This is one the most exciting projects in the world and what is built over the next 25 years will have an enormous effect on London's future success. No other Olympic Games has begun delivering and planning for legacy this early. We believe it is essential in ensuring a lasting legacy."

Tom Russell, Group Director for Olympic Legacy at the LDA, said:

"The work that this team will do over the next 18 months will provide the strategic framework for the improvement and development of the Olympic Park area and its environs for decades to come."

"The Park represents a unique urban infrastructure. A visitor destination with new transport links and attractions. The framework has to anticipate a number of different scenarios in terms of levels and mix of density and these designs must support the wider needs of the community."

The masterplanners were chosen from a shortlist of six following 34 expressions of interest. Each were asked to set out their overall vision, approach and delivery of the Olympic Park which was judged by a panel of legacy partner organisations.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said:

'This is another important and impressive milestone in securing the legacy of 2012. The London Development Agency did an exemplary job in managing the assembly of land for the Olympic site, and in relocating of hundreds of businesses to new premises whilst securing thousands of existing jobs in a very short time. Now the challenge is make real our vision for a lasting legacy in east London, with thousands of new homes and jobs set in a great new park for London. Starting today, the London Development Agency will work with this top class masterplanning consortium to transform one of the most blighted parts of the UK into a world class place to live, work and visit for generations to come.'

Kees Christiaanse, Partner of KCAP Architects & Planners, said:

"The extraordinary scale of this project will stimulate a fascinating debate with the design team as well as with the LDA, the local stakeholders and the public. We look forward to working with our partners on this very exciting project."

Jason Prior, Principal of EDAW, said:

"We are very excited to be working in a team made up of the best practitioners in the field. The Lea Valley is the most important design product in London. Realising the full benefits of the Olympic investment through the creation of new city quarters, with high quality environments and strong social and economic structures is a huge opportunity for London."

Bob Allies, Partner of Allies and Morrison, said:

"The Olympic legacy is a serious responsibility. It's a well considered response to put together a team that can bring deep and diverse experience to the table."

It is anticipated that the regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley will deliver up to 50,000 jobs and up to 40,000 new homes - of these approximately between 10,000 and 12,000 jobs and 9,000 homes will be within the park.

In October, the LDA held a legacy visioning event with planners and urban designers to understand what kind of ambitions and aspirations people wanted for their communities.

Their views and ideas have been harnessed among three working groups comprising of all of the partners - Department for Communities and Local Government, the five Olympic boroughs, Greater London Authority, ODA, Department for Culture Media and Sport, Design for London, the Thames Gateway Development Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

These working groups are covering three themes - delivery, engaging people and place making - and their reports will be feeding into the masterplanning process.

The LDA will also hold a legacy launch event in Stratford at the end of February where community groups can meet and build relationships with the masterplanners.

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For media enquiries, please contact Andreas Christophorou at the LDA Media Team on 020 7593 8444; for public enquiries, please call 020 7593 9000.

Notes to Editors

• The London Development Agency works to improve quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth.
• The interview panel comprised of representatives from the Mayor of London's Office, LDA, Design for London, LTGDC, ODA, DCLG, and the five host boroughs.
• The LDA is the majority landowner of the Olympic Park and is leading on plans and designs for the site after the Games. The masterplan will form the basis of an outline planning application in 2009 which will provide the context for the development of a whole new place in London.
• The LDA is delivering on Olympic legacy now. This work includes helping Londoners access skills, job and businesses opportunities through projects such as the Opportunities Fund, Personal Best and CompeteFor. The LDA has also developed three state of the art business parks in Beckton, Leyton and Enfield for businesses relocating from the Olympic site.
• On July 2 the LDA took control of the Olympic site - an area equivalent to Hyde Park - following the acquisition of 2,200 land and property interests. The LDA has supported 193 businesses to move. Almost all have relocated to new premises securing 98% of the 4,750 jobs on site. The Agency has also supported 425 residents, 35 Traveller families and 64 allotment holders to find new homes and premises nearby.
• The Olympic site was handed over to the Olympic Delivery Authority at the end of July for demolition, remediation and construction of the stadium. It will come back into LDA control post Games to create the physical legacy.