Olympic park development body to see planning powers transferred back to councils

Boroughs in east London are to recover town planning powers from the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which was formed to oversee the development of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park area after the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The LLDC was formed as a mayoral development coronation and London mayor Sadiq Khan last year said planning powers exercised the corporation would return to the boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest by December 2024.

A report by Newham’s elected mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said this would “enable enhanced democratic oversight on planning matters in the borough of Newham”.

Ms Fiaz added: “The return of town planning powers carries with it a host of advantages, foremost among them being our renewed ability to shape the future of our borough in line with residents' needs and aspirations."

She said the council would continue to work with a reconstituted LLDC to ensure the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park operates as a ‘great estate’ that benefits all residents.

LLDC would continue to operate as a mayoral development corporation but primarily focussed on the park and its surroundings rather than planning and economic development.

The corporation said the transfer of planning powers also required the transfer to the boroughs of “a complete and comprehensive set of planning data and records”.

This would include personal data and historic LLDC decisions, background material and support for future borough planning decisions.

All four boroughs leaders or elected mayors are members of the LLDC board, which is chaired by the former Transport for London commissioner Lord Hendy.

Mark Smulian