Community Review Panel

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) wants to give a voice to local people in the design of proposed developments, public spaces and infrastructure in their area. 

In January 2023 it launched a new Community Review Panel (CRP). The CRP has commented on nine publicly significant schemes to date, ranging from residential buildings to pedestrian and cycle bridges, hotels to industrial workspaces. The panel will continue to support the LLDC to deliver high quality design in the area.

We are currently recruiting new members to add to the Community Review Panel.

What is happening in the Legacy Corporation area?

In the coming years, there will be significant new development across the LLDC area that will involve the continuing regeneration of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and neighbouring areas within the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. The LLDC’s Local Plan 2020-2036 has the mission of creating opportunities for local people, as well as driving innovation and growth in London and the UK. Its objectives include creating a sustainable high-quality built environment in the LLDC area, together with providing the necessary local infrastructure to support growth.  

To deliver in ways that are inclusive and empowering for existing and new communities, that maximise opportunities and enhance quality of life, the LLDC wants to understand the views of people living, working and studying in the LLDC area.

What is the Community Review Panel?

The Community Review Panel plays an independent, advisory role in LLDC’s planning work, discussing issues including housing, transport, public and green spaces, and the environment. This helps to ensure that new development is of the highest possible design quality, meeting the needs of people living, working, visiting and studying in the area, now and in the future. Panel feedback will also be sought on draft planning policy and guidance, in addition to the formal consultations that already take place.

The panel generally meets about once a month, sometimes twice, (18.30 – 20.30) to discuss development proposals (and sometimes emerging policy and guidance) and give its views. These discussions are turned into a formal report that feeds into planning decisions made by the LLDC. The panel’s comments will be taken into consideration as a formal part of the planning decision making process. 

Who are we looking for?

The CRP currently has 12 members, and we want to add capacity. We would particularly like to increase representation of women, people with disabilities or health conditions, 18–24-year-olds, people from Newham, and the student community. We’re keen to have people on the panel who know the area well and who want to positively influence its future – whether you are a resident, student, employer, employee, or regular visitor. 

You do not need experience or knowledge of planning or architecture and should not be a built environment professional already. Elected members and local authority employees are not eligible to apply.

What skills or experience do I need?

The members of the panel should have a diverse range of experience and local knowledge. We’re looking for a broad cross-section of members, drawn from across the community, who:

• bring a strong understanding of the local area, the way it works, its history, its inhabitants, and local needs;
• can reflect the needs of existing residents and businesses, in providing positive and constructive advice from a community perspective on proposals for development and change, and feedback on emerging policy and guidance; 
• will make confident contributions in meetings;
• will collaborate and respect the contribution of others in panel discussions.

How will the panel be managed?

Frame Projects is responsible for recruiting and managing the panel, to make sure that it is independent, properly briefed and able to effectively communicate its views to the Legacy Corporation. They will provide panel members with the support needed for their role.

Will I be paid to attend review meetings?

Panel members will receive payment for each review they attend, to a value of £27 per two-hour session (London Living Wage). This can be in cash or vouchers, depending on individual preference. Reasonable expenses, such as for travel and / or childcare, will also be paid (up to £25 per panel member per session).

How can I get involved?

We really hope that you’ll apply to be a member of the Community Review Panel. You will need to fill out an application form by 5.00pm on Friday 1 December.

To apply, download the application form and equal opportunities monitoring form, at the bottom of this page, and email the completed form to: lldc@frame-projects.co.uk.

If you have any queries, please call Frame Projects on 020 8164 9980.
 

Developers present their initial proposals to the Community Review Panel, who play an independent, advisory role to the developer and the Legacy Corporation in reviewing and discussing those plans from their own perspective, using their own valuable lived experience. Issues include housing, transport, public and green spaces, the environment, and more. This advice then helps ensure that new development is of the highest possible design quality, meeting the needs of people living, working, visiting and studying in the area, now and in the future. In addition Panel feedback may also be sought on draft planning policy and guidance documentation, in addition to the formal consultations that already take place. 

The panel meets about once a month to discuss development proposals (and periodically, emerging planning policy and guidance documents) and provide its views. These discussions are then turned into a formal report which feeds into decisions made by the Legacy Corporation. The panel’s comments are taken into consideration as a formal part of the planning decision making process. 

Further details about the Community Review Panel’s purpose and the way it works with the Legacy Corporation can be found in the CRP Handbook which can be viewed and/or downloaded below:

• CRP Handbook

The Panel is managed by Frame Projects on our behalf. If an application is referred to the Community Review Panel, the person or company making the application pays for the Panel to consider it. This normally only happens where a development is high profile or complex. The current charging rates apply from the January 2023 and are as follows:

• £4,500.00 (+ VAT) Community Review Panel meeting

Where a scheduled review is subsequently cancelled or otherwise postponed by the applicant, an administrative charge will be applied. The current charging rates are as follows:

• 50% (+ VAT) of full cost within one week of the scheduled review
• £900 (+ VAT) between one and four weeks from the review

Please Note - payment must be received by the LLDC at least five days in advance of the CRP review. If payment is not received, then the review may be cancelled. 

Payment can be made by Cheque or BACS transfer:

Cheques should be made payable to the London Legacy Development Corporation and be sent, with a covering letter, to:

Community Review Panel
London Legacy Development Corporation
Level 9
5 Endeavour Square
Stratford 
London
E20 1JN

If you wish to pay via BACS transfer, then please contact Planning Policy and Decisions Team via the contact details below for information on how to make a payment.

• Email: CRP@londonlegacy.co.uk.