31/03/2025 – Today, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) launched its new Design Quality Policy and Inclusive Design Standards, reinforcing its commitment to ensuring its developments at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are inclusive, accessible and sustainable.

As the UK government works to meet its ambitious target of delivering 1.5 million new homes, these updated policies and resources also represent a significant step in LLDC’s commitment to not just meeting targets but also ensuring it creates high-quality, inclusive housing that sets a precedent for public sector-led developments. 

The Design Quality Policy (2025) details LLDC’s vision for delivering high-quality design across all developments, alongside inclusion and diversity, inclusive growth, community wellbeing, and advancing sustainable development in response to the climate emergency. It incorporates lessons learned from past projects and aligns with 1.5-degree design standards, providing a framework and guidance to achieve net zero.  

The policy sets clear expectations for design quality management, ensuring quality maintained throughout the development cycle, from briefing to design development, procurement to occupation. Key aspects include promoting diverse design teams, supporting both established and emerging practices, and advocating for larger space standards to enhance long-term housing flexibility for its diverse residents. Additionally, it mandates annual design quality reporting metrics to track progress and accountability. 

The Inclusive Design Standards (2025), shaped by direct insights from the independent Built Environment Access Panel (BEAP) and developed with Buro Happold, aim to set a benchmark for best practice in inclusive urban environments across the UK. These standards ensure that inclusive design principles extend beyond East London, emphasising diversity, accessibility, and people-centred design. They provide design intent and guidelines for creating inclusive neighbourhoods, external environments, residential and non-residential buildings, ensuring that developments cater to a wide range of needs. 

Key aspects include guidance on sensory and neuro-inclusive environments, addressing how spaces impact different senses and can be designed for greater accessibility. The standards also emphasise safe and equitable environments, integrating gender-inclusive planning to enhance perceptions of safety for women, girls, and gender-diverse people. Additionally, new guidance covers alternative types of residential developments, responding to the rise of diverse housing models like student accommodation and co-living spaces. 

Neil Smith, Chair of BEAP, said: “Over the years, we have engaged with countless applicants, discussing how their projects can be more inclusive and better meet the needs of society. Through these conversations with designers, developers, and planning officers, we have explored ways to enhance schemes based on the IDS and our recommendations. I am thrilled that this version of the IDS continues to capture and incorporate these valuable insights, reflecting the extensive learning and application. The IDS remains world-leading, setting the agenda for a more considered built environment that meets the needs of everyone.” 

LLDC’s updated policies are complemented by an appraisal of its Quality Review Panel (2025), which was established to support LLDC in delivering high-quality development in and around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The panel reviewed over 190 schemes between2012 and 01 December 2024 before returning its planning authority functions to the local boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. Developed in partnership with Frame Projects, the report provides valuable insights and lessons for other local authorities and public bodies that may be planning areas of urban change and demonstrates how an independent panel can assist in the delivery of high-quality projects.  

Peter Maxwell, Director of Design at LLDC, who has led the design team for the past decade, said: “LLDC is grateful for the collaboration with various partners and organisations throughout the research, writing, and publication process, and we hope these policies and the research will set a new benchmark for impactful development. Despite challenging market conditions, these efforts have consistently driven the delivery of high-quality neighbourhoods, buildings, landscape and public realm here. By working in close partnership with our developers, design teams, and operators, we’ve been able to make a lasting difference for East London 

All policies and research can be downloaded via www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/about-us/how-we-work/design-excellence.  

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