London Mayor Boris Johnson named the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as the winner of his special award for ‘Planning Excellence’ at the London Planning Awards yesterday.
The 102 hectare park was applauded for its transformation from a forlorn part of London, with disused factories and contaminated waterways, to becoming “Europe’s most significant landscape”.
Plans are afoot to convert the park into eight permanent venues for major concerts and sporting events and five new neighbourhoods creating 8,000 new jobs and a 2,500-strong temporary construction workforce.
Veteran Architect Sir Terry Farrell was also recognised for his work on iconic London building projects including Buckingham Palace, Earls Court, Holborn, Nine Elms and Vauxhall among others.
Other winners of the night include Kings Cross station for best built project, the Aylesbury Estate Regeneration Phase 1 for best new place to live, Leyton Town Centre for best town centre project, The Roundhouse for best built project five years on, and Ladywell Fields in Lewisham for best new public space.
London Mayor, Boris Johnson, said: “This award is for every one of the thousands of people and organisations who have contributed to the overwhelming success of the Olympic Park design. They have delivered a brand new district for London, which is admired the world over, and laid the foundations for an amazing legacy for this great city.
“Yet again the standard of entries this year is excellent. From town centres to public buildings and new green spaces, the variety and quality of the submitted projects gives me great confidence and excitement about the fantastic transformations we are seeing in every corner of this great city.
“This year I am particularly delighted to be able to recognise the exceptional work of Sir Terry Farrell who has made an incredible contribution to London’s public realm which is enjoyed by Londoners and visitors from around the world.”
Baroness Jo Valentine, Chief Executive of London First, said: “The London Planning Awards celebrate the best of what can be achieved in the capital. They demonstrate what is possible when we work together to create great buildings, places and neighbourhoods. This year’s winners and all nominees are outstanding and their projects will help strengthen London’s position as the best city in the world. The planning and development of Olympic Park is an outstanding symbol of London’s ability to host major events and the major regeneration of East London.”
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