A planning application that will shape the future of East London was submitted as the Olympic Park Legacy Company moved into the next stage of delivering the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Family housing, connectivity and attractive open spaces are at the heart of the Legacy Communities Scheme (LCS), which covers 64 hectares of the Park where five new neighbourhoods will be built over 20 years.

The Park will offer up to 8,000 new homes, with 6,800 included in the LCS. A further 2,800 units will be created in the Olympic Village. Amenities including new schools, nurseries, community spaces and health centres, have been positioned to ensure they are accessible to people living around the Park as well as those in it – stitching the Park to its surrounding communities.

Planning applications for the rest of the Park, including the areas around the venues and north & south parkland, will come forward at later dates. Together they will combine to form one of London’s most important and comprehensive regeneration projects.

Andrew Altman, Chief Executive of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, said: "This planning application represents a significant moment in making the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park a reality. This time last year we outlined our vision for the Park, today we are mobilising to make it happen.


"As one of the most important housing developments in London’s history, these five neighbourhoods will stitch together the surrounding communities of a formerly isolated area through new homes, schools, shops, parks, infrastructure and jobs."

Around 12,000 people have helped shape the 5,000 page LCS application through consultation and working with stakeholders including the host boroughs and community groups. The Legacy Company has responded by putting their key issues – family housing, accessible amenities and attractive open spaces.

The public also helped to decide the names of the five new neighbourhoods through the 'Your Park, Your Place' competition earlier this year. They are: Chobham Manor, East Wick, Sweetwater, Marshgate Wharf and Pudding Mill.

Around 40% of the homes are family homes with the majority of the neighbourhoods drawing inspiration from London's heritage of terraced housing. Up to 35% will be affordable housing in line with the London Plan.

There will be a rich public realm typical of what can be found in London’s great neighbourhoods, including 29 playgrounds, plazas, canal paths, roof gardens and cycle paths.

Three new schools, two primary schools and a secondary school, will support the neighbourhoods and the surrounding area along with Chobham Academy, which sits just next to the Olympic Village and will open in September 2013.

Other amenities include nine nurseries, three health centres and 12 multi-purpose community spaces, which could be community centres, libraries and gyms. They are in walking and cycling distance within each neighbourhood, and, importantly, are positioned in areas that are easily accessible to people living outside of the Park as well.

The LCS also provides for 130,000 sq m of employment space, which could provide around 4,400 jobs in 2031 – with other venues and programming on the Park likely to take that figure up to 8,000 jobs, with a further 2,000 construction jobs anticipated.

The five new neighbourhoods will open in phases to the public from 2013, with families moving into the first new homes in 2015.

(CD)