MANAGING CHANGE: QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK SIGNIFICANCE STUDY Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: Valuing Landscape February 2021
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MANAGING CHANGE: QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK SIGNIFICANCE STUDY FOREWORD
More than ever before, the value of Value takes many forms and we urban parkland is in the spotlight. As have sought to recognise that in our we battle the Covid-19 pandemic, parks assessments. Using methodology well like Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park have respected in the Heritage sector, we played a crucial role for the communities have reviewed the Park’s socio-economic surrounding them. As well as offering a worth, its historic and aesthetic value, the source of fresh air and access to nature – ecological and natural capital values as well vital within urban environments – parks as the more traditional uplift to land values give local people space to exercise and brought by those key developments on the relax and provide a lifeline to support Park like Here East, IQL and East Bank. their physical and mental well-being. We have consulted with those who live, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, as the work and use the Park on a daily basis such latest addition to London’s Great Estates, as the Park Panel and our volunteer Park also provides the chance to help London’s Champions as well as staff and contractors. economic recovery with its unique mix Continued dialogue helps us to manage of commercial business districts, housing change in significant areas to ensure developments and world-class sporting that the right balance is struck between venues set within wonderful parkland. development and conservation as the Park inevitably evolves over time. It will help All this highlights the vitally important ensure that changes enhance rather than role our policies on managing the Park detract from what is already here. have on shaping and protecting the area. We already have the Park Management This document is the start of a vital Plan, a Biodiversity Action Plan, a Natural conversation about the future management Capital Account and the Park Design Guide. of the Park. We encourage participation and This document aims to complete that suite contributions to that debate. of documents by starting a conversation about the value of the Park so that we can identify and agree which areas are special and significant and how best to protect them in the long-term.
Rosanna Lawes Mark Camley Executive Director of Development Executive Director, Park Operations and Venues
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 1 MANAGING CHANGE:OLYMPIC QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK SIGNIFICANCE OLYMPIC PARKSTUDY SIGNIFICANCE STUDY
2 CONTENTS
Executive summary: London's newest great estate 1. Managing change 9 2. Park significance 13 3. Summary of key signficances 15 3.1 Key significances 15 3.2 Table of landscape elements of key significance 18 3.3 Park significance plan 21 3.4 Areas of vulnerability 21 3.5 Listing and threats to the park's status 22 3.6 Informing future decisions and change 22 3.7 The pitfalls of ad hoc change 23 3.8 Updating the management plan 23
4. Values explained 25 4.1 Evidential value 25 4.2 Historical value 26 4.3 Aesthetic value 28 4.4 Communal value 41 4.5 Ecological and natural capital values 44 4.6 Strategic significance 46
This document has been prepared and checked in accordance with ISO 9001:2015
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 3 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is Europe's most important new landscape for a generation. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: LONDON'S NEWEST GREAT ESTATE
The London 2012 Summer Olympic and Today, the Park has double the green Paralympic Games were staged in Europe’s space made available for the Games. It has most important new landscape for a attracted developments such as International generation. It provided a wonderful setting Quarter London and Here East, that of restored rivers, waterways and wetlands, benefit from proximity to the parklands. lawns and meadows, known now as Queen Recognising the quality of the Park would Elizabeth Olympic Park. be acknowledged if it was granted protected status as a registered landscape. A landscape The Park was carved from an east London of this importance, which would be defined post-industrial environment. Vast swathes across the four London Boroughs, could be of contaminated land were remediated achieve this exceptional status before the and dozens of pylons removed. Landscape standard period of 30 years, providing it designers, city planners and engineers came meets the criteria. together to transform the place into a new piece of city. This document, read with the Park Management Plan, comes at a time when London used the Games to catalyse social, increasing urban density means the public economic and environmental regeneration. demand for high quality green space Biodiversity-driven landscape designs is growing. Magnified by the Covid-19 maximised the opportunities for a rich pandemic, the Park has been a centre of ecology. Concourse paving was minimised communal value and been able to respond so that the River Lea corridor could be by re-purposing facilities to provide support opened up, reconnecting the river with its to local communities. The services and surroundings and creating generous space benefits such space provides are understood, for wet woodlands and water meadows. but not always valued.
The Park is one of the reasons that London This high demand coincides with serious 2012 lives on so strongly in the capital. budgetary constraint which presents a grave While it hosts iconic architecture such as risk. Commercial opportunities present the Lee Valley VeloPark and the London themselves as a funding solution, and it Aquatics Centre, from the very beginning the is possible to take advantage of them in parklands were a much-loved landmark in a way which does not over-compromise their own right. the quality of this nationally significant landscape. Understanding the significance London's Great Estates are the best example of the landscape is a way to enable this in of large tracts of land in the capital managed a considered way; linking to the commercial holistically through cycles of change and strategy and maintaining the Park Brand. renewal. It is time to see Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as London's newest Great Looking to the future, there will be Estate, giving a sense of place and natural significant change due to construction and capital benefits for the future residents regeneration activities. It is incumbent on and commercial developments. The Park landowners and land managers to have the deserves exactly this kind of well-tested vision and foresight to manage this change approach, rooted in a long-term vision to deliver the benefits envisaged. and stewardship and with deliberative investment, maintenance and management.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 5 This document plays a part in the process and natural capital accounting, which puts of learning from the past whilst anticipating a monetary value on landscape benefits the future with fresh and rigorous thinking. including health and wellbeing, which translates as future savings for the NHS, shown in the Park's Natural Capital Account. Understanding landscape significance of the parklands (Park) The Park is a carefully composed landscape, shaped by a new aesthetic, a To retain the distinctive character of 21st century picturesque. This approach the Park, there has to be a rigorous created accessible looped walks around understanding of the value of its landscape the Park and views to the Olympic venues elements and qualities. Intrinsic to this is and across the river. The Park is a riverine how people use the Park and what it means park and the River Lea, as its main focus, to them. It is this understanding which is of the highest significance. Access to equips the park management with the tools and views of the river clearly need to be to inform decision-making in the short and considered and preserved. long term, not least in directing investment and future commercial decisions. The Park is one of the most biodiverse man-made landscapes in the UK. Any If the significance of those landscape jeopardy to this precious biodiversity is not elements is disregarded in decision-making, an option in the context of the twin crises then detrimental interventions could have of climate breakdown and loss of species a negative impact on visitor experience, and habitats. function, value and aesthetics of the Park. The Park hosted the world’s most Any intervention must add value to the successful and sustainable Games and Park's brand (which changes of over connections to that recent history. The icon time). Commercial income generating venues are key attractors to the Park and initiatives need to consider their impact are of architectural interest sitting within which may block key views, disrupt spatial the wider landscape. From iconic Art in composition, add visual clutter and attract the Park to the Fantasticology wildflower unmanageable crowds. Even what might meadows the parklands must be maintained appear to be minor interventions, such as and invested in. poorly placed signs or obtrusive commercial branding, can cumulatively have a powerful Connections to the area’s industrial effect which diminishes character. heritage must also be protected, including Carpenter’s Lock and The Blue Bridge. Any of these consequences would betray Post-Games additions, such as Tumbling the original fundamental purpose of the Bay and South Plaza, richly planted by the Park, which is to bring good opportunities internationally recognised designer Piet to people in east London. So, the Park Oudolf, are also highly prized. needs to continue to stay relevant and interesting while retaining the original design intent which is at the root of its Next steps include ... success. All future development in and around the Park benefit from this high quality Areas of key significance landscape and these key significances, need to form part of the induction process This report sets out the areas of key for all new land and estate managers. This significance in Queen Elizabeth Olympic can help to ensure that new interventions Park, so that they can be maintained, enhance rather than detract, and that the nurtured and protected. right balance is struck between change Significance is a way of assessing what and conservation. Failure to do so could makes a place distinctive. It is determined result in these key qualities being lost or in a wide range of values set out by Historic gradually eroded if not considered as part England – historical, aesthetic, evidential of the Park's day-to-day management and and communal. Other determinants are decision making. ecological importance, strategic significance
6 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE The Park's landscape had to make a decisive response to match the infrastructure and the iconic Games buildings. This meant identifying the Park's true asset, the neglected River Lea. The Park soon after completion of the transformation stage, following the Olympic Games. 1. MANAGING CHANGE
The importance of emerging and existing communities, and landscape significance visitors from further afield. There are myriad reasons why people Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is now at a value a place from its landscape to the critical development stage as it becomes role it meets in society, its architecture a more integrated part of London's urban to its connection to notable past events. grain. As developments around the Park Landscape significance assesses what are realised, pressure on the Park itself makes a place special. It is the sum of the intensifies. By 2025, there will be 40,000 values attached to a place, taking into jobs in and around the Park, including account cultural importance and heritage, 2,500 at East Bank, London’s latest major as defined by Historic England. It enables new cultural development. By 2030, 96,000 landscapes to be well managed and to people will be living in the LLDC planning evolve in a cohesive and considered way area. How the Park interacts with these based on an understanding of what is most edges is key. valued and therefore needs safeguarding.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been Staying true to the original vision evolving since its inception. Following the 2012 Games, the Park went through The complexity and multi- functionality of a ‘Transformation’ phase, which saw the public space demands a holistic approach landscape of the Games retained and that finds the right balance between spaces space used for the Olympics converted and buildings. to parkland. The Park has two distinctive characters – a mounded, natural feeling in Creating a successful new place starts the north, and ordered and gardenesque with a clear vision and design intent. This in the south. Both work hard to connect means exploring the qualities of the site people and place to nature. and understanding its distinct character and identity, as well as how it will be used and Today, the Park covers 226 hectares, with function. It means knowing how the sun 6.5km of waterways. It has more than moves across it, and how people will come 13,000 trees and at least 60 bird species. to experience it and move through it. It is It is also one of London’s most visited sites, a profound appreciation of what connects with 25 million visitors to date. By 2031, people to place and what gives them a this figure is expected to rise to 125 million. sense of belonging.
The Park Management Plan aims to take For Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, forward “the legacy and landscape design staying true to its original vision means and horticulture excellence, beauty understanding and respecting the elements and quality, community participation that have contributed to its success. It is sustainability and nature conservation these characteristics that people value in a created for Games time.” The permanent place and what gives it social, cultural and public park is easily accessible, serving physical importance.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 9 The masterplan for the Park during the Games. The Park’s key features are in place, including the temporary and permanent venues.
10 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE The Transformation masterplan shows the expanded Park. The temporary venues have been removed and landscape expanded.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 11 6Surrounding developments, existing, in construction and future. LLDC’s East Bank Development, 2019 Planning Document 2. PARK SIGNIFICANCE
Effective place management rests on Historic England Values: a comprehensive understanding of what could change and what should be Evidential Value assesses a place’s potential preserved. to reveal evidence of past human activity.
To understand this balance, it is important Historical Value examines the ways in to assess the significance of a place and its which people, events and aspects of life component parts. Listing is the term given can be connected through a place to the to the practice of defining the importance present. It can be ‘illustrative’ of a social of buildings, scheduling monuments and movement, design phase and technological registering parks and gardens. The listing innovation; or ‘associative’, for example, of process reveals what is of value to ensure events, people or cultural movement. that changes do not result in loss of significance. Aesthetic Value explores how people draw sensory and intellectual stimulation from a By identifying areas and aspects of higher place. and lower significance, proposals can be developed to protect, respect and, where Communal Value is derived from the possible, enhance character and cultural meanings of a place for the people who value. This can highlight areas where only relate to it, or for whom it figures in their minimal interventions should be considered, collective experience or memory. These as well as where change might be beneficial values are linked with historical, particularly to, or even enhance, significance. associative, and aesthetic values, but tend to have additional and specific aspects. Defining significance Additional values to consider: People value places in many different ways. In order to arrive at a consistent Ecological and Natural Capital Accounting methodology that captures this, Historic NCA puts a monetary value on the benefits England has created four values or landscapes provide. These include flood categories as part of its Conservation relief, cooling effects on environments, Principles (2008). These values are: filtering air pollutants, and providing mental historical, aesthetic, evidential and and physical health benefits, which, as an communal. example, can translate into future savings for the NHS. Other aspects that people This report assesses the significance of value about landscapes are more difficult Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park using these to measure; for a designed landscape, these four values. It also identifies two additional may include tranquillity and safety. key values that come into play for a 21st century park: ecological and natural capital, Strategic significance assesses the value of and strategic significance. The values a place within the wider context, and takes specific to the Park are described in full in into account social and economic uplift. Chapter 4.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 13 8 MANAGING CHANGE: QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK SIGNIFICANCE STUDY 3. SUMMARY OF KEY SIGNIFICANCES
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is an ecological green space; whilst the award-winning designed landscape. To South Park is an urban entertainment date, it's had 25 million visitors. The most hub made glorious with ornamental recent survey (2018–19) reveals visitor horticulture. satisfaction is exceptionally high at 89 per cent. The Park has consistently been * Ecology: The Park has one of the most awarded Green Flag status from 2014 - biodiverse man-made landscapes in the 2016, and it meets the highest standards in UK. This is monitored through the Park's design, sustainability and accessibility. Biodiversity Action Plan. The drive is for continued improvement, with no The Significance Plan on page 8 shows degradation or net biodiversity loss. the areas of the Park that exhibit the highest significance, according to their * London 2012: The Park will always be accumulative historical, aesthetic, evidential known for hosting the most successful, and communal values, as set out by Historic sustainable Games ever. Connections England. to this heritage are of key significance, from the bespoke artwork dotted These areas should be given the highest around the Park to the Fantasticology levels of scrutiny and protection possible wildflower meadows. so as to retain their integrity. They should benefit from outstanding design input and * 21st century picturesque: It is this a well-managed programme of renewal. landscape approach which sets the Park This will protect the fabric of the Park from apart and makes exploring it such a damage that could compromise it for future delight. The Park’s legacy topography, generations. The diagram also highlights planting and habitat create a carefully the areas that are less valued and could composed landscape. To date, these undergo change or intervention without components have remained largely harming the Park’s overall qualities. unaltered. Located between the river and the ‘rim’, these carry the memory of the London 2012 Games and are of 3.1 Key significances include: high landscape and cultural significance. Key is maintaining the accessible looped * River Lea: Queen Elizabeth Olympic walks around the Park and the views to Park is riverine. It features 6.5km the venues and across the river. of improved waterways. The River Lea flows through the centre. Access * Accessibility: The Park was designed to and views to the water need to be be accessible to all, such as / including maintained and enhanced. the elderly, people with disabilities and young families. This was a complex * North and South Park: The Park process. Landform needs to continue to comprises two distinct character areas. be accessible, open and inclusive. The North Park is a rich naturalistic
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 15 * Park edges: How the Park connects this iconic tree-lined walkway is the with surrounding neighbourhoods is most popular walkway through the Park. of critical importance. The edges must It is also one of the most picturesque benefit the Park and help retain the locations, running form the Pleasure feeling of being in a Park. They should Gardens to Carpenters Lock in the not be consumed by overspill from centre. the surrounding urban streets. A good example is Chobham Manor with its * Golden gravel: This surface is an edge strongly defined through the important marker, it signifies that you buildings and a vegetated edge, but with are on the Park. areas of open permeability and welcome at specific points of entry into the Park. * Heritage: The Park is a complex A less successful edge is the temporary environment with a layered history, treatment alongside Hopkins Field, from the Romans through to its where the Park is edged and dominated more recent industrial past. Historic by Waterden Road and Here East bridges, such as The Blue Bridge, without sufficient vegetation or Park create important physical and temporal boundary definition to allow an arriving connections. These elements combine visitor to feel like they have entered a with the Park's now transformed rivers, park. canals, railway infrastructure, and new resilient network of green infrastructure. * The post-Games transformation landscape design and function were * For the people: Queen Elizabeth conceived at the very start of the Olympic Park is significant to the design process for the Park. This holistic local community. A strong social approach eased the transition from a infrastructure is focused around the Games landscape to a functioning Green Park, fostered by new and existing Flag park. Key features of this critical residents and regular visitors. phase include: Tumbling Bay play area and Timber Lodge, The Pleasure Gardens * Social, economic and cultural and venues including the Lee Valley transformation: Natural Capital Hockey and Tennis Centre, the Lee Accounting points to the physical and Valley VeloPark and cycle circuit, and mental health and wellbeing benefits the London Aquatics Centre. of urban green space. This means that green infrastructure should be * Pleasure Gardens: Featuring planting by an investment priority within wider world-renowned designer Piet Oudolf, regeneration programmes. Queen the intimate garden rooms are richly Elizabeth Olympic Park is a substantial planted. Careful maintenance will help to urban green space. Its views and retain their distinctive structure and the biodiverse landscape add social and spirit of Games time. Activation should economic value to the wider area, be explored with respect to the original and will benefit new developments, design thinking. including: East Bank (Stratford Waterfront and UCL East), Here East, * The Waterworks Fountains: This is the Sweetwater, Hackney Wick, East Village focal point on the South Plaza, and is and Fish Island. its most inclusive feature. The design mirrors the undulating landscape, * Retained Venues: Provide architectural with 195 jets choreographed to tempt interest in the landscape with key children to run through without getting views toward the Velodrome and the wet. It represents the Park at its most London Stadium noted as significant. playful. They are visitor attractors to the Park particularly when hosting major events. * Tessa Jowell Boulevard: Renamed (More information can be found on in memory of the former Culture Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park website Secretary, Baroness Jowell – a driving - www.queenelizabetholympicpark. force behind the London 2012 Games, co.uk/the-park/venues
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3.2 Table of landscape This table sets out what is significant in landscape elements of key significance design terms, threats to those significant elements of the Park landscape, and what needs to be done in order to protect and retain them. These key qualities could be lost or gradually eroded if not considered as part of the integral, day-to-day management and decision making.
What is important Threats What must be done to protect it: 2020-2030
Overall Design Quality
The ‘21st Century Picturesque’ The design of the Park is not Recognition of the various landscape design recognised in terms of its views, aspects of the 21st Century landform and focus on the river. Picturesque by those who As a result, its landscape manage it will enable this quality, planting and views are new style of Park design compromised and it becomes a be maintained for future less attractive place to visit. generations of visitors.
Planting & Gardens
2012 Gardens: the diversity of Loss of the diversity of plants Planting areas need to have plants, representative of Asia, in these beds due to lack of vigorous plants thinned and Europe, Southern Hemisphere and budget for replacement plants, supplemented with new plants to Americas, and their horticultural or through lack of horticultural restore and maintain horticultural and aesthetic delight. skills. quality and variety of plants.
South Plaza Play Area planting: Loss of the diversity of plants Planting areas need to have The diversity of plants, which in these beds due to lack of vigorous plants thinned and define the play ‘rooms’ (not budget for replacement plants, supplemented with new separated by railings), and their or through lack of horticultural plants to restore and maintain associated horticultural and skills. horticultural quality and variety aesthetic delight. of plants.
Link between North and South Parks
The link, including Mandeville This link currently does not The design of the development Place and its surrounding connect the two halves of the must provide a better integrated Park well. Mandeville Place link with Park character for Orchard is not well integrated North and South Parks, and into its paved surroundings, improve integration of the which are rather bleak and Mandeville Place installation. windswept.
The Park’s character areas and river setting
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is New development or Ensure all new additions defined by its design as a River additions which compromises enhance or do not compromise Park. Access to the water needs riverine character or access. the character or views to be maintained and enhanced. Interventions that are not especially the open river setting. Key character areas have special designed to be in keeping with qualities that should be retained the character of the area or the or enhanced. Park.
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What is important Threat What must be done to protect it: 2020-2030
The welcoming, open character of the Park and permeability of entrances
Open, accessible character and Growth of vegetation starts to Ensure all woodland and scrub circular routes make some routes dark and understory is cut sufficiently far uninviting, and a risk to safety. back, to retain an open feel.
Permeability of entrances and Permeability of the Park New adjacent development routes compromised by adjacent, new must have open, visible and developments. permeable entrances with clear sight lines and visibility within the Park.
Key views and vistas
Key vistas towards Games Designed views become Ensure trees and shrubs are and Transformation buildings, compromised by overgrown maintained and cut back and views within the Park vegetation. sufficiently to protect these landscape, shown in the diagram open or designed views. on page 14
Objects such as kiosks or Views must be considered when semi-permanent attractions or installing new attractions and facilities may be installed to services, to fully understand enhance visitor services, but the impact on the quality of the may unintentionally block or landscape and sense of place hinder views that people value when they visit.
Advertising wraps gradually A consistent approach erode the quality of landscape to branding should be and environment. implemented throughout
Experience of staff and understanding of management and maintenance
It’s important that managers Managers don’t recognise key An induction of all managers understand the intent and significant landscape elements and site staff to include the rationale behind the original of the Park, which leads to various landscape elements Park design, so they can balance ad hoc and ill-considered of the Park. It should point this with economic constraints additions, or commercialization out what the key significance and revenue generation. (including advertising) could elements are in landscape erode the landscape quality and design terms and how best to enjoyment of the Park. protect and enhance them.
13 13 19 20 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 3.3 Figure 2: Park Significance 3.4 Areas of vulnerability
Landscapes are vulnerable to outside North Park pressures, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is no exception. So, what do we need Areas or features of high significance to look out for? 1. North Park core landscape 2. Tumbling Bay * Tensions may arise between the 3. North marsh/water glades drive to generate income and meet Areas or features of moderate funding pressures and the impacts significance on the landscape. The balance struck needs careful consideration within the 4a. Cycle Circuit and BMX 4b. Hopkins’ Field context of the original design intent and the Park's distinctive character. Without due care and attention, South Park interventions, be they permanent or Areas or features of high significance temporary, can add clutter, disrupt spatial composition and block views. 1. London 2012 Gardens 2. The Pleasure Gardens * Investment is needed to manage, maintain and renew the landscape and Areas or features of moderate significance sustain character, diversity, landscape quality and to uphold design intent, 3a. Fantasticology Meadow ecology, horticulture, hard works, 3b. Great British Garden furniture and infrastructure. Inability to Landscape that provides setting for the become financially sustainable will result designed Park or Park buildings in a decline in quality, which in the long term will have a negative impact on Areas or features detracting from biodiversity and visitor experience. significance and character A. Lack of design and connectivity from * Additions that are out of sympathy North to South Park with the spatial and aesthetic objectives of the Park. This could B. Mandeville Place environment include tree planting or new buildings, C. Narrow overgrown steps into North or equipment and furniture. Park D. Weak edge along west side currently * Large-scale events if not managed well, can have an impact on the Park’s E. Noise intrusion/visual intrusion to the ecology, threatening sensitive areas and north new landscapes. Care needs to be taken F. Lack of connection at low level at to ensure that intensity of use is not Carpenters lock greater than the Park was designed to G. Poor space for pedestrians around the accommodate and that sensitive areas base of ArcelorMittal Orbit are fully protected. H. Canal link to the north is a poor environment * Large-scale commercial or public events, were always designed to be part of how the Park operated and are carefully Areas of adjacent open space, not part of the Park (not LLDC land) considered on a case by case basis. Major events, can reduce the amenity for local users, closing off major areas of the site for health and safety reasons or ticket-only access. Events bring vibrancy and life to the area but should continue to be managed in terms of frequency and location, so that the local community continues to feel invested in the Park and people are not deterred from using it on a regular informal basis.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 21 3.5 Listing and threats have been holistically managed for the long to the Park's status term to create a resilient cycle of change and renewal. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park should Park requires a similar holistic management meet the criteria for a Grade II* listed approach that considers the Park as a landscape on the National Register of whole. Parks and Gardens, based on the following assessment: It is critical that LLDC and future managers of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park work to Evidential value: The site is rich with retain the integrity of the Park as a 'Great heritage assets – from archeological finds to Estate', considering the significance of the the structures of the Lea Valley and Canal Park’s design to promote a coherent sense system, Carpenters Lock and horse bridges of place and to drive a robust decision making process for new developments that Historical value: The Park was delivered are within their control. by a team of nationally and internationally important landscape architects, designers The Park Design Guide has been developed and architects. It is also associated with a to maintain the design quality for the global historic event – the London 2012 whole estate and beyond, helping to Olympic and Paralympic Games. guide changes by LLDC and third parties. LLDC has high quality design, including Aesthetic value: 21st century picturesque sustainability and accessibility, as a means the Park represents a distinctive key over-arching theme, along with design style. visitor and resident experience, and community development, engagement and Communal value: associated with all those participation. who visited the Park during construction and the London 2012 Games. The Park is designed with a strong sustainability imperative and activity in the It is not standard for a park to be listed Park needs to reflect that ethos and values. until it is 30 years old, unless it is under This Significance Study will be embedded threat. However, Queen Elizabeth Olympic in the Park Management Plan so that future Park's potential for inclusion when the interventions are considered carefully, time is right could be compromised if the avoiding the pitfalls of incremental fabric of the Park is undermined through detrimental change. insensitive placement of new structures or decline in maintenance, for example. The document will sit alongside the Historic England states that a major Biodiversity Action Plan, Park Design Guide, obstacle to inclusion on the Register is a Park Management Plan, ‘How the Park lack of prominent features, the impacts is Managed’ and other relevant policies from mid to late 20th century changes ... and strategies. It will help inform and and more recently from "development and direct discussions about the quality of the inappropriate landscape". designed landscape in different forums from project planning to community The quality of maintenance and respect for engagement sessions eg Park Panel, Legacy the design should therefore be carefully Youth Voice and Park Champions who feed monitored, to ensure that when it reaches into the management process. thirty, or even before, it can be submitted for inclusion on the Register. Further collaboration with the Park Champions (volunteers who work on the Park) and consultative groups such as the 3.6 Informing future Park Panel and Legacy Youth will help to decisions and change strengthen further the relationship with local people and help to guide future Most of London’s most successful management decision making. development can be traced through its Great Estates: large pieces of land which
22 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 3.7 The pitfalls of ad hoc change To do this well, we have to understand what is precious and strive to protect it. This The last half century has witnessed a lack means not only being cognisant of impact of sustained financial support for public of major development, but also of small, parks in the UK. Looking for ways to make ad hoc incremental changes - a poorly up for funding shortfalls has often led to designed sign here, an incongruous bin ad hoc, ill-planned interventions. A gradual there, a fast-food kiosk that blocks a long, erosion of designed features and planting desirable view. These kinds of changes can has undermined design coherence and eat away at what makes a park feel special. quality, reducing overall value and status. Costs to put this right are considerable. Updating the Management Plan UK parks are not alone in this; studies of highstatus parks, such as Central Park This document and Management Plan will in New York and Moscow’s Gorky Park, be reviewed periodically Updates will be support these findings. The Central Park added as a dated appendix. Conservancy states 'we preserve the original vision for Central Park' and projects The review should include documentation have conserved many of its original of new interventions and their impact on features. In recent years, as part of the city the significance of the areas affected and wide improvement strategy, Gorky Park values. was re-masterplanned through the process of landscape significance. Investment lead to the removal of inappropriate or adhoc accretions and significant features were restored. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a new landscape which has required significant investment and this can make it especially vulnerable to the pressures of development. It is critical that QEOP, as a high-profile designed landscape, is allowed to grow in a managed way, safeguarded from the kinds of development that have blighted other historic urban parks.
Vinyl wrap on Honest Sausage kiosk, Tessa Jowell Boulevard makes it more recessive in the landscape
Temporary bin and outdoor gym equipment are out of keeping with the design of South Plaza pleasure gardens. Lighting columns on Marshgate Lane do not follow the Park Design Guide colour palette
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 23 3
Flask in the form of a figurine Archaeological excavation taking place at Temple Mills © MOLA/PCA found at the site Late 19th Century
The Early to Middle Neolithic axe from A Roman coin from the period of Emperor Constantine II unearthed during the Olympic Park (c) MOLA construction of the Park Photograph: John Stillwell/PA
The ODA declared preparation for the Park to be Britain's largest archaelogical dig. The myriad finds included a19th century boat used for hunting wild fowl on the River Lea. Four skeletons were also found. (c) Wessex Archaeology
24 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 4. VALUES EXPLAINED
In its 'Conservation Principles, Policies and eight locations it was decided that further Guidance', Historic England outlines six excavation and reporting was required, high-level principles introduced on page both to examine the archaeological remains 5 of this document.. These include that more closely and to mitigate the effects of understanding significance or collective the development by preserving ‘by record’ values attached to places is vital and that those remains that could not be preserved significant places should be managed to in the ground. In Trench 9, a dense cluster sustain their values, with decisions about of archaeological features indicating a change reasonable, transparent and long-term prehistoric settlement was found. consistent. Based on these finds, the trench was extensively enlarged and revealed a Middle This section sets out the specific 'values' Bronze Age (1600–1100 BC) field system, that compromise the significance of the Late Bronze Age (1100–700) working areas, Park. These are: Evidential, Historical, a Middle Iron Age roundhouse settlement Aesthetic and Communal. In addition, and enclosures (400–100 BC), and a Ecological and Natural Capital Accounting Romano-British boundary ditch of dating values are also explained in detail. back to the 1st century.
Following a site-wide assessment of the 4.1 Evidential Value findings from all the trenches, the results of the fieldwork have undergone a detailed Part of the legacy of the London 2012 analysis and interpretation. The finds Games has been the creation of an have been cleaned, sorted and samples archaeological record for the site: detailing processed and, along with the written its origins, history, and the story of the site records, drawings and photographs, varied communities who have contributed are being closely examined. The aim was to its distinctive character. to build up a picture of when and how past occupants of the Lea Valley lived, In total, more than 10,000 artefacts were worked and died, to better understand the recovered, ranging in date from early development of the local and the wider prehistory to the present day. The extent of community. the investigations, finds and recording gives the Park a Moderate Significance in terms A number of community-based projects of its evidential value. enabled members of the public to get involved with the archaeology and built heritage of the Olympic Park, and results of 4.1.1: Investigations and the analysis of the finds have been made archaeological mitigation widely available. Findings from most of the 122 evaluation Finds include everyday items from pre- trenches suggested that there was no need history – pieces of worked flint and broken for more archaeological work. However, at pottery – to 19th and 20th century finds
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 25 such as pottery, glass, clay tobacco pipe, 4.2 Historical Value animal bone and coins. Only a few Roman and medieval finds were recovered Historical value, as defined by Historic including pottery, two Roman coins and a England, derives from the ways in which shale bracelet fragment. An extremely fine past people, events and aspects of life Neolithic flaked flint axe recovered from can be connected through a place to the the Park is thought to have been deposited present. It can be associative or illustrative. in a river channel as an offering or votive deposit. 4.2.1 Historical Value: Associative Trench 59 revealed one of the most striking discoveries: the near-complete remains Association with a notable event gives of a small 19th century river boat. As the historical value resonance, and London site’s central feature, the River Lea has 2012 was undoubtedly a historic national long been the focus of agricultural and and international occasion. Being at a place then industrial activity in the Lea Valley where something momentous happened providing the main method of transporting can increase or intensify understanding, goods to London. Discovery of the boat has providing it appears close to how it did revealed different aspects of the river’s use at the time. Innovative interpretation can during the Victorian period, all of which are intensify the visitor experience such as recorded. augmented reality on hand held smart devices. The ‘missing’ Roman Road Associative value is also derived from Investigations to find evidence of the association with those involved in shaping Roman Road, thought to pass through the a place. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was Park (or other substantial Roman activity) shaped by an array of renowned landscape were unsuccessful. This was probably architects, designers, architects and because of the river valley, meaning that a ecologists. raised crossing over the numerous water channels and marshy ground had been The lead designers associated with the obliterated over time, or the structures had creation of the Park were LDA Design/ been rebuilt and changed course to enable Hargreaves, with Sheffield University and ‘island hopping’ to traverse the channels. Sarah Price, and with ecological design by BSG Ecology. Surrounding Roman activity Notable architects behind the permanent There is, however, no shortage of evidence buildings for the 2012 Games include for Roman activity outside the Park. Michael Hopkins and Partners (Velodrome) Previous excavations revealed, for example, and Zaha Hadid Architects (London a Roman settlement at Old Ford, possibly Aquatics Centre). Populous designed the used as an interchange point between Olympic Stadium and Make Architects the road and river traffic. There were timber multi-sports venue, the Copper Box Arena. buildings forming a fairly substantial The Park’s landscape forms the setting for ribbon development dating from the first these landmark buildings, which are framed century AD. Evidence of butchery, together by specifically designed views. with numerous coins, suggest this may have been a market settlement serving Renowned designers of the post-Games Londinium. Park ‘Transformation’ include: LDA Design/ Hargreaves, James Corner Field Operations, Further details of these investigations Piet Oudolf, Erect Architecture, LUC and can be found here: webarchive. Make Architects. nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130403013105/ http://learninglegacy.independent.gov.uk/ themes/archaeology/index.php
26 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 4.2.2 Historical Value: A variety of highly innovative clean up Illustrative and construction methods were put into practice to ensure sustainable construction Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has set and ground decontamination. For example: the stage for widespread economic more than 98 per cent of the demolition growth – the first time a Park has led waste created to make the Park was urban regeneration in this way. Work recycled. on the Olympic Park became the largest construction project in Europe. Further detail can be found in the Learning Legacy archive: https://webarchive. As well as the design of the Park itself nationalarchives.gov.uk/20180313172814/ – its systems, landforms and vegetation http://learninglegacy.independent.gov.uk/ – the process of its construction is also themes/sustainability/index.php significant.
Silver birch trees, South Park © Claire View of the North Park from the River Lea © Claire Borley Borley
View towards the 2012 Gardens and the London Stadium designed by Populous © Claire Borley
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 27 4.3 Aesthetic Value vital interaction between monumental The original meaning of the word landscape architecture and the landscape. They open is to create a place where people belong. and close with the interplay of strong People feel this sense of belonging when geometric landforms within the Park and they are in a place with a strong identity, are juxtaposed with the naturalistic planting where they feel connected to nature, from that either softens the landforms or defines planting to bird song. and reinforces spaces and frames views. This combination makes it a different design language from the picturesque of As part of its methodology to assess the 18th and 19th centuries, but one that is landscape significance, Historic England rooted in some of the same principles. uses aesthetic value to capture the ways in which people derive sensory and Figure 3 shows the key designed views, intellectual stimulation from a place. from a long view to the Lee Valley VeloPark to views of feature meadows to wider Design value relates to the aesthetic views of the wetlands. qualities generated by the conscious design of the landscape from form to proportions, views and circulation. 4.3.2 Aesthetic Value: Site development 4.3.1 Aesthetic Value: The quality of the Park’s landscape design Creating a distinctive 21st is exemplar. It supports high-profile century picturesque uses and functions, and has garnered international status. Securing Historic The 18th century aesthetic ideal England listing for the Park would formalise ‘picturesque’ is the start of Britain’s love Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a valued affair with landscape, a love that continues landscape, maintaining this status, and to this day. Picturesque landscapes, such protecting its future without jeopardising as Kenwood House in Hampstead, were development or the Park's financial designed to celebrate nature in an idealised stability. form. As the century wore on, a more naturalistic style emerged championed first The fact that the Park is less than 10 years by Capability Brown and then Humphry old should not prevent it being viewed as Repton, amongst others. Framed, almost a significant landscape. To achieve this, an painterly, views were critical to this design understanding of the purity and cohesion aesthetic. of the original 2012 Games-time design is critical. The significance of the character Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park brings areas are outlined in this document. this concept into the 21st century. When developing the London 2012 Olympic Park, Post-Games Transformation it soon became clear that the landscape architecture had to be assertive to respond Transformation Park interventions, which to the scale of infrastructure and the iconic were designed and implemented between Games buildings. 2012–2014, have already become landmark features. These include the Pleasure The largest urban park in Britain for a Gardens and Promenade; Tumbling Bay play century, QEOP is a designed landscape, area; Hopkins’ Field, a four-acre meadow with strong geometric landforms, combined named in memory of John Hopkins who set with trees, lawn, planting and the river. This out the bold brief for the Park; the iconic creates a variety of surprising, delightful Lee Valley VeloPark; road cycle circuit and spaces and framed views to key built or mountain bike track; Lee Valley Hockey and landscape features. This aesthetic has been Tennis Centre; and the restored Carpenter’s referred to as ‘21st century picturesque. Road Lock.
This approach involved creating Figure 4 shows the Park’s evolution, strong axial, incidental and panoramic highlighting areas with design intent designed views to the transformed established during the Games and those river and landmark buildings, achieving marked for post-Games Transformation.
28 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE Kenwood House, Hampstead
The Regent’s Park
Examples of London’s designed landscapes
Kenwood House The Regent’s Park
Symbolic of the ‘Picturesque’ Designed as centrepiece for new housing
Setting for Kenwood House One of the most ambitious urban parks of the 19th century
Place for health, open views A setting for villas and the Zoological Gardens
Designed by Humphry Repton, 18th century Designed by John Nash, early 19th century
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 29 Figure 3: Designed views
North Park views South Park views
Long views Long views 1. Long view to Lee Valley VeloPark 1. Across bridge to London Stadium 2. Key river view north to big skies 2. 2012 Gardens view 3. Urban skyline and river view 3. Long concourse promenade 6. Belvedere looking south Chanelled views 4. Hopkins Field river path Cross river views 5. Curved view to the river 4. Stratford Waterfront / East Bank 6. Main curved view to the river 5. Carpenters Lock ‘Headland’ view north 9. Feature meadow river view Internal / enclosed / garden short views Wider views and wetland panoramas 7. Garden rooms, close views 7. Rain gardens, water systems 8. From Olympic rings to parkland looking south to P1 9. To the Paralympic Agitos sign, with uninterrupted parkland backdrop 10. View south from Waterden Road
30 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE Figure 4: The evolution of the Park: Games and post-Games Transformation
Key areas: North Park Areas designed and implemented for 2012 Games Olympic memory 1. North Park core landscape 2. Tumbling Bay Areas with design intent established 3. East Village wetlands during the Games design period, but detailed design and construction 4. North Park Cycle circuit/velodrome during post-Games Transformation and Lee Valley VeloPark 5. BMX and mountain bike tracks Areas of adjacent open space, not part of the Park (not LLDC land) 6. Eton Manor (now the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre) 7. Canal Park
Key areas: South Park 1. London 2012 Gardens 2. The Pleasure Gardens 3. City Mill River 4. London Aquatics Centre promenade (Stratford Walk – F10 bridge) 5. Old Ford Woods 6. Carpenters Road Overbridge
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 31 1 12.0 12.0
2.3
Concourse River Lea
2
2.3 2.3
Concourse SUDS drainage/wetland River Lea
Diagrams showing the change in landform from the pre-Park river bank (1) with very limited river views to the landform designed for the QEOP (2). This key move enables river views and a river landscape system.
4.3.3 Aesthetic Value: 4.3:3.1 A River Park Original concept, design intent and design principles One of the most ambitious moves which symbolises 21st century picturesque involved recognising the potential of the The original and defining concept for QEOP River Lea. included three key areas: Sluggish and polluted, the Lea was sunk * A River Park – making the River deep in a channel with steep banks, as Lea the central feature illustrated in the top diagram. These banks * North Park – an ecological park were pulled right back, making it visible * The South Park – a 21st century from a much wider area, and giving it ‘Pleasure Garden’ the presence it deserved. Views through the Park were designed to take in this transformation.
The setting and character of the river should receive the highest level of protection – naturalistic and urban.
The river is central to the Park, but it is not the only aesthetic use of water. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s landscape was designed so that water is a feature throughout, with drainage rills or ‘rain gardens’ running alongside the paths, forming a SuDS drainage system within the North Park.
32 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE
4.3:3.2 The North Park North Park edges: The Park's edges are set – An ecological park to develop greatly over the next decade. Chobham Manor is an excellent example The North Park is designed as a complete of how Park space is being defined along landscape system with the river as a the North East boundary, establishing centrepiece, along with landform, access, an active relationship between family and sustainable elements – ecology, river housing and the Tumbling Bay play area. habitat, water management, woodland, lawns with landscape highlights and feature planting.
The naturalistic parkland setting offers a variety of experiences, appealing to families and larger social groups, as well as those seeking quiet or close contact with nature in the city. It has a strong memory of the 2012 Games.
34 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 4.3:3.3 The South Park – Completed in 2014 as part of the An urban entertainment park Transformation, the Pleasure Gardens are a series of ‘garden rooms’ defined by ornamental planting. The London 2012 Gardens were the South Park’s defining component for the Olympic Each space offers something different and Games. surprising, from climbing walls, outdoor gym and play areas, to theatre spaces and Inspired by the history of British plant fountains, along with planting by world- hunters and biogeography, the Gardens’ famous Dutch garden designer, Piet Oudolf. design approach was unique for its time. There is a promenade of trees made up of It also raised the profile of the ecological multiple species, and a restaurant. It is also value of ornamental planting in cities and the setting for the ArcelorMittal Orbit. the importance of diversity. The iconic London Aquatics Centre helps Key components include: views through define the edge of the South Park. In the to the river, routes to river edges and future, the edges will include the new accessible spaces by the river, as well as neighbourhood of Sweetwater to the west, trees, planting and lawns. UCL East along its southern boundary and Stratford Waterfront to the east.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 35 4.3.4 Aesthetic Value: 4.3.5 Aesthetic Value: Planting Tree planting strategy The planting for the Park was carefully There are more than 13,000 trees within considered. The trees and horticulture the Park. Tree locations were planned in were designed with clarity and order, and conjunction with the landform, with sun integrated with the other Park components, or shade and with future uses in mind. including landform, river, paths and Planted in lines, groups and as woodland buildings. blocks, as part of the initial Park design, the trees define routes and create spaces and The planting overlay helps to define the ecological areas, as well as provide distinct Park’s structure. It also serves an aesthetic planting features. function, adding seasonal variation, texture and colour. Views are defined or reinforced The main design components of the by trees, and specific spaces are fringed by Park’s tree strategy and reason for their blocks of colour within feature meadows. positioning are:
* Linear tree routes: Trees help define The ‘eco zeitgeist’ the routes from the lower river valley path to the upper concourse. Species The London 2012 Gardens celebrate the (spp.) were chosen according to habitat, great British passion for collecting plants as well as aesthetics. The river edge from around the world and designing them features willow and alder, the drier soils into our gardens. Planting here is arranged of the upper valley feature lime and chronologically as explorers and plant cherry. hunters travelled the globe seeking out new plants, starting in Europe during the * Concourse trees and avenues: London Renaissance. plane trees can withstand the heat from hard paving and as a result are The design for the Gardens is rare in the characteristic of the capital’s streets and UK. It reflects the latest thinking on the parks. Plane trees in Queen Elizabeth considerable ecological value of urban Olympic Park gave the Park a mature landscapes and domestic gardens, and the structure early on. importance of species diversity and plant structure. * Small tree groups: Grouped trees provide shade and seasonal display. Initial inspiration for the ecological areas Species were chosen to reflect the in the north park came from the ecological moisture gradient of the river valley, principles set out in William Robinson’s from damp to dry. ‘The Wild Garden’ published in 1880, which came back a century later with the * Entrances: British artists Ackroyd ‘new’ German-style planting in West Park, and Harvey created a series of living Munich and planting mixes mastered at the artworks to mark the main entrances Hermannshof botanical garden in Baden- of the Park. Ten specimen trees, chosen Württemberg. This style has an informal to reflect the biodiversity of the framework with no grading of heights from Park, support a large bespoke metal front to back, no segregated clumping, no ring, six metres in diameter within highly bred flowers and jarring leaf shape. their crown. Each ring is engraved The overall effect is of intermingled, casual with text marking the passing of and undulating plant forms and groups. time, reflecting the history of each It can be viewed as an ‘eco zeitgeist’, not location. The trees were planted currently mainstream outside Germany. during the Transformation phase.
The Gardens feature large-scale, ‘new perennial’ public planting, initially pioneered in the Netherlands and popularised by Piet Oudolf. Despite looking naturalistic, they are carefully structured around traditional, pictorial objectives.
36 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 1
2
3 4
5 1 View of the ArcelorMittal Orbit and riverside terraces, South Park © Robin Forster 2 Great British Garden, South Park © Robin Forster 3 Colourful meadow area within North Park © Claire Borley 4 South Park View from 2012 Gardens looking up to London Aquatics Centre © Robin Forster 5 Great British Garden © LLDC
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 37 4.3.6 Aesthetic Value: 4.3.7 Aesthetic Value: Horticulture strategy Other jewels in the Park Buildings in the landscape The Park’s horticultural components also vary from north to south. In the North Park As referenced previously, the main the style is naturalistic, whereas the south buildings of the 2012 Games are associated features most of the ornamental plantings. with notable architects. They include the Key elements of the horticulture strategy Lee Valley VeloPark by Hopkins Architects, include: the London Aquatics Centre by Zaha Hadid, the Copper Box Arena by Make * Spectator lawns: Hard-wearing grassy and the London Stadium by Populous, as areas are designed to cope with large well as the ArcelorMittal Orbit by Anish numbers of people. Kapoor and Cecil Balmond. These buildings have become focal points, defining * Perennial meadows: Formed of space, framing views and characterising spring and summer native and non- areas. They also assist with legibility and native plants, the meadows offer an orientation when moving through the Park. ornamental, flowering display that also extends the season for nectar gathering The Park’s landscape is designed and insects. orientated so that these buildings are in key views. The landscape has also been * Feature meadows: These are smaller, designed to respond to the buildings. The more colourful meadows located in the most notable setting is the inter-relationship North Park. They are situated within between the landform of the North Park elliptical shaped landforms opposite which echoes the form of the Velodrome. spectator lawns.
* Fantasticology meadows: Situated Art in the Park between London Stadium and the Aquatics Centre, the meadows are Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the first a vivid ecological artwork, a floral Olympic Park to integrate bespoke artworks celebration of the industrial heritage of into the landscape from the start. This the site which recreates the footprints became a significant part of the Park’s of the factories and warehouses which Strategy. previously occupied the site. Today, there are many smaller new * Wetlands: The Park is alive with temporary and community-based artworks richly biodiverse wetlands, from and these initiatives are to be encouraged. riparian vegetation at the river edge However, their setting should be considered to the SuDS drainage channels or carefully to ensure they make a positive rain gardens running alongside the contribution to the Park’s aesthetics, graded paths, to the frog ponds. All and thought needs to be given to future serve different functions of rainwater maintenance and the management of storage and provide varied habitat, resources. while contributing to the unique overall aesthetic of the Park. Maintenance of the rich variety of wetland dotted around the Park is as important as for other areas.
* Ornamental planting: The South Park features the majority of the ornamental plantings normally associated with high-quality public parks. The components are categorised by their design, form and the function they play within the landscape.
38 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 1
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3 4
5 1 View of the Lee Valley VeloPark 2 RUN by Monica Bonvicini 3 Steles by Keith Wilson 4 Annual meadows within South Park 5 The Spark Catchers by Lemn Sissay
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 39 2
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5 1 Climbing wall, South Park © Robin Forster 2 View of the London 2012 Gardens 3 Cycle track and Lee Valley VeloPark 4 South Park plaza 5 Mountain bike track, North Park © Robin Forster
40 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 4.4 Communal Value in England, costing the NHS over £1 billion a Historic England defines communal value as year. Many adults engage in moderate physical deriving from the meanings of a place for the activity only once a week or less. In 2017/18, an people who relate to it, or for whom it figures estimated 22 per cent of children aged 4 to 5 in in their collective experience or memory. England were overweight, rising to 34 per cent Communal values are closely bound up with for children aged 10 to 11. historical (particularly associative) and aesthetic values, but also have additional and specific Encouraging healthier lifestyles is a key driver, aspects. and Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Hackney are amongst a raft of local People draw part of their identity from a authorities now referring to the health benefits place, or have emotional ties to it. Places can of parks in their Open Spaces Strategies. also represent wider values and be part of a collective memory, be it either positive or Recent research has proven what many people negative. For Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it is have long felt, which is that green space is good overwhelmingly positive. for mental and physical health.
The original landscape designed for the 2012 A report by Fields in Trust outlines that Games carries memories and the spirit of the proximity to, and more frequent use of, local Games. Its development was underpinned by green space produces corresponding increases in key principles set out by the Olympic Delivery health and wellbeing scores across all four of the Authority (ODA) including: sustainability; Office of National Statistics wellbeing indicators accessibility and high-quality design; health, – life satisfaction, sense of worth, happiness and safety; security; economic benefits for local anxiety – along with general health. people; equality and inclusion; employment and skills; and legacy. Green infrastructure, including parks, is increasingly being recognised as delivering To date, there have been over 25 million visits to benefits that far outweigh investment. the parklands, venues and events, many millions during the Games themselves. Seventy thousand Public Health England recognises that increased people served as Games Maker volunteers. It access to green space is directly linked to was the most watched Games with 52 million increased levels of physical activity, which is people tuning in. The Park itself embodies this then directly connected to maintaining mental life-affirming memory. It is the Park that tells and physical health and preventing illness. This the story. is supported by a wealth of scientific evidence, which demonstrates a positive impact in terms Wider community benefits of reductions in long-term conditions including London’s bid to stage the Olympics was driven heart disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal by an ambition to use the Games to deliver a problems. lasting legacy, including sporting, social, cultural and environmental benefits. The aim was to Widening appeal through a range of activities raise the profile of sport in the UK and get the and creating a feeling of safety ensures as many country more active; create new venues to people as possible can benefit. Encouraging host world-class events; establish a playful new longer dwell times is critical. Timber Lodge is an landscape for local people to enjoy, and provide example of an award-winning community facility close access to nature. and café, which enables Park users to lengthen their stay. It was also seen as an opportunity to rebalance economic growth in the capital, funnelling Open-to-all, free activities across Queen energy and investment into east London to Elizabeth Olympic Park ensures the widest create a more equitable city, providing better life benefits possible for the community. chances. The Park offers up other communal educational London, like all cities around the world, is facing benefits too, from major sporting and cultural the challenge of climate breakdown. But there events to providing the resource for training are other challenges too. Loneliness is now programmes and school visits in a variety of recognised as deadly; toxic air is impacting on subjects such as town planning, ecosystem life expectancy; and insufficient physical activity services, ecology, architecture, landscape design is an important risk factors for the health burden and urban design.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 41 42 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 4.4.1 Communal Value: The questionnaire was carried out in Public perspective of the discussion groups and on walks and talks. Park’s values It was designed in two parts. The first asks what is special about the Park, and what Understanding what people value most challenges or threats the Park faces. about Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park means management can be concentrated in areas The second focuses on what makes places of high value and new structures or events and features within the Park special, and in areas that are less significant. what values these hold for individuals. Particular areas or favourite views were With this in mind, a Significance Survey marked on a map during organised Park was designed to help categorise the areas walks making reference to the original 2012 of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and to Olympic and Paralympic Games landscape understand which aspects mean most to along with features that were implemented people. Findings from the questionnaire during ‘Transition’ after the Games. have informed this study.
4.4.2 Questionnaire key findings
During workshops with Park Champions 2. Red = Threats to the Park LLDC Staff and local Park users, participants were asked to highlight * Litter specific areas of the Park, and mark * Threat of fire from BBQs them with coloured dots. These were to * Pudding Mill Lane development, indicate which areas were: needs to consider the adjacent allotments * Special Areas (shown green), * Traffic by Marshgate Lane, including key views, particular threatening its picturesque walkway areas of the Park valued for aesthetic or cultural reasons; * Threats to the Park (shown red). 3. Yellow = Don’t change These included management as well as other external factors; * Blue old horse bridges on the canal * Areas of the Park which should * ArcelorMittal Orbit not change (shown yellow); * Water Glades * Areas with capacity to change * Olympic Rings (shown blue), these were areas * 2012 Gardens which particpants thought did not work so well and could, or should, accommodate change. 4. Blue = Capacity to change
1. Green = Special Areas * Necessity for low-level link from North to south Parks * Olympic Rings * Lack of a crossing at the canal * Tumbling Bay near Carpenters Lock * Bridges near Mandeville Place * Landscape linking north and * Views to past and present south Parks including Mandeville * London Aquatics Centre Place and its edge with the * Water glades Belvedere development plot * Planting on Velo bridge and Lee Valley VeloPark * Walks around ponds * Wetland birds and wildlife * Families, fun and water views * Peace and less noise, more space * ‘An aesthetic that restores the soul’
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 43 4.5 Ecological and Natural Key benefits are as follows: Capital Values Recreational enjoyment: There are 1.71 million visits to the Park a year, not Natural capital accounting monetises the including visits to its venues. This equates values landscape provides in terms of to a monetary value of £6.7m per year. ecosystem services. This is calculated in terms of benefits, from flood relief to the Physical health benefits: An estimated cooling effects on environments, from 880,000 people make an active visit to filtering air pollutants in the air to health the Park at least once a week, resulting in and wellbeing, and is based on a set of savings from avoided health effects of over agreed and recognised criteria. £2m per year. The UK Government defines natural Flood risk reduction: Four thousand capital accounts as providing structured downstream homes are at a lower risk of information relating to the stocks of natural flooding. capital and flows of services supplied by them. Accounting for natural capital is Property value uplift: The Park enhances important as many of the most valuable the attractiveness of the area to current services it provides are intangible so they and prospective residents and businesses, are often overlooked. Therefore, prior to increasing property value. This premium on creating natural capital accounts decisions property prices in close proximity to the can frequently be made without best Park is estimated at between £200 – £400 representing the environment. million and the premiums for commercial rents at £360,000 per year. The focus for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is on the health benefits gained from Management Costs: A natural capital regular use of the Park. More than 18,600 account for the Park must also recognise people pay an active visit to the Park the costs of managing and maintaining it. at least once a week. In natural capital QEOP has a horticultural and green space accounting terms, this potentially reduces management budget of £2.1 million each costs to society by £2.08 million every year. year, which funds a team of more than 30 (FTE) staff necessary to ensure the quality and extent of assets are properly 4.5.1 Natural Capital Summary maintained.
The natural capital account for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park focuses on health and wellbeing, demonstrating the benefits the Park delivers to the surrounding boroughs and their residents. Benefits from carbon sequestration, mitigation of noise and removal of air pollutants by vegetation were also considered but found to be of low value and not significant enough to the overall value of the site. More details are provided in the ‘QEOP 2018 NC Account Reference
Results Note’. Natural Capital Account for QEOP
44 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 39 4.6 Strategic Significance The sunny riverbanks provide an ideal university setting but they are also key to A community is rapidly growing in and its integration, with the community given around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The easy access. Park has become central to the quality of life here, connecting a network of cultural, A dynamic common ground will support commercial, residential and educational an innovative, curated programme of neighbourhoods. It is in the Park that busy activity, drawing crowds to the Park. BT lives can comfortably overlap. Sport, Loughborough University, the British Council, TfL and many other commercial Easily accessible facilities within the Park and educational organisations are already support a range of activities enabling local established within Queen Elizabeth Olympic people to live healthier, happier and more Park. active lives. The local and wider community is already taking emotional ownership. As New homes: The Park is central to a the population grows, visitor numbers will connecting network of ecological and also continue to rise. environmental infrastructure linking the surrounding neighbourhoods, including Recent and new developments within the Stratford, Chobham Manor, Chobham Farm, Park include: East Village, Hackney Wick and Fish Island.
Here East: An award-winning digital quarter Events: Large-scale events such as Ride and campus that builds on the creative London, which occur in the Park and stadia, heritage of Hackney Wick. Here East give profile and status to East London. reuses London 2012’s Media Centres and This will be reinforced by the incoming is now home to established organisations institutions. and start-ups alike, leading the way in technology, culture, innovation and enterprise. By taking temporary buildings and spaces and giving them fresh purpose, it serves as a bold statement of sustainable For further reference: design. * Significance Survey East Bank: The Park provides the setting * Community and Stakeholder for East Bank, a new powerhouse for Activity Report innovation, creativity and learning. * NCA Report (2018) Stratford Waterfront, the largest cultural * Park Management Plan: Character Areas investment in the capital since the Festival of Britain and the South Bank, will open up world-class arts and education to a younger audience. Big names heading there include the BBC, London College of Fashion, Sadler’s Wells and the V&A. The latter will also establish a Collection and Research Centre at Here East.
Another aspect of East Bank is UCL East, which sees University College London expanding to east London with a new campus on the Park. This gives the university a great deal more space for new facilities to support its reputation for academic excellence. It also allows the university the opportunity to pioneer a new approach, one that fosters collaboration and benefits the local community more directly, securing better education and employment outcomes for local people.
46 QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 1
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5 1, 2 Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 3,4 Stratford Waterfront, East Bank 5 UCL East Plaza
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 47 42 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: Valuing Landscape commissioned by London Legacy from LDA Design
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the Park Champions for their contribution to this report. They provided invaluable help with the assessment of community and aesthetic significance. They also attended workshops and Park walks to discuss and highlight significant landscape views and features.
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK: VALUING LANDSCAPE 49