Youth panel start work on designing the Olympic site’s legacy

A panel of 25 young people met for the first time after being given the unique chance to work alongside the masterplanners tasked with developing legacy plans for the Olympic Park site.

As part of ongoing community engagement and consultation, the London Development Agemcy (LDA) has given budding planners and designers from the five host boroughs, aged between 14 and 19-years-old, the chance to gain valuable industry experience and contribute to the legacy plans.

The LDA is leading a partnership overseeing the Legacy Masterplan Framework (LMF) - spatial plan for homes, parkland, schools, workspace, health and sporting facilities to be developed on the Olympic site Park after the 2012 Games.

Last week, the newly appointed panel met with the masterplanners – EDAW, KCAP and Allies and Morrison at their London offices and were given the chance to review latest design work, ask questions and present their views, ideas and priorities for creating the best legacy for the Olympic Park site and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Please contact the LDA media team for the chance to interview a panel member from your area.

Tom Russell, Group Director of the Olympic Legacy, said:

"The Legacy Now Youth Panel is a great opportunity for these young people to help shape their future. We want to harness that enthusiasm and offer practical experience where they can develop specialist skills for higher education and future careers.

“There has been so much enthusiasm from young people in the planning process during the summer consultation events. They will be the ones that will be able to look back in forty years time and judge the true legacy of the 2012 Games.”

The Legacy Now Youth Panel will:

* Meet planners, architects and decision makers
* Visit the Olympic Park site and other regeneration developments
* Take part in Olympic site model making with masterplanners
* Review designs and plans
* Undertake work experience placements
* Present and consult with wider groups of young people
* Communicate developments via website, blogs and e-bulletins
* Make creative projects including a ‘sound track’ of a walk through the Park
* Plan for a large scale youth event in Summer 2009.

The LDA has teamed up with Fundamental, an architecture centre based in east London, to form and oversee the Panel. They worked with the 2012 units from each borough to select teenagers with an interest in planning and the area around them.

The young people have been recruited from a range of existing groups from within their boroughs including Greenwich’s Young Peoples Council, Hackney’s Olympic Ambassador Scheme, Newham’s Architecture Crew, the Waltham Forest Youth Ambassador’s and the Tower Hamlets Sports Ambassadors.

Fundamental Chief Executive Nick Edwards, said:

“The evening was a huge success with a genuine dialogue taking place between the team of masterplanners at EDAW and young people from the five host boroughs. They presented their eight priorities for the Olympic Park Legacy and the team detailed how they were taking these into consideration in the development of their design. The ensuing debate was excellent and opened up a series of other discussions which will be carried over to a follow up meeting in the New Year.”

The Panel is just one of a number of upcoming youth events the LDA is holding as part of the Legacy Masterplan Framework consultation. They include half term workshops, a series of university lectures and school visits.

Bill Hanway, Chief Operating Officer of EDAW, said:

“The ability to deliver a significant and sustainable Olympic Legacy is built on understanding the goals and aspirations of the young people in the surrounding community. Their ambitions and skills will profoundly shape and inform the developing plans and the design team looks forward to working closely with them.”

The LMF outline planning application, due to be submitted next year, will be part of a wider economic, social and physical regeneration strategy for the Olympic Park and the Lower Lea Valley. The LDA is leading this work alongside London 2012 partners.

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Notes for editors

The London Development Agency aims to improve the quality of life for all Londoners - working to create jobs, develop skills and promote economic growth.

The LDA is helping delivery of 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 Park site. For more information about the LDA’s Olympic legacy work visit www.legacynow.co.uk.

Masterplanners for the LMF process are EDAW, Allies and Morrison and KCAP.

Fundamental are an architecture centre that seeks new ways for communities to participate in the transformation of their neighbourhoods.

* The LDA is leading the master planning process, working with partners the Olympic Delivery Authority, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the Greater London Authority, Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) and the five host boroughs of Hackney, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Waltham Forest.
* On July 2 the LDA took control of the Olympic Park 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 Panel has been brought together to input into the Legacy master planning design process, carry out peer to peer activities to ensure wider youth engagement and host a sharing event to report back to young people who have participated in the process.