David Poultney for London Legacy Development Corporation

Project management of Quality Review Panel

In 2012 Fortismere Associates was appointed by the London Legacy Development Corporation to set up a Quality Review Panel. The panel brings together planners, architects, landscape architects, engineers, and accessibility and sustainability specialists – all respected experts in their field.

The Legacy Corporation – the organisation behind Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – is working towards creating a dynamic new heart for east London. It is committed to achieving the high quality design that will see thriving new communities emerge around the park.

We are continuing to manage the Quality Review Panel’s work. This includes regular review meetings where the panel provides objective, impartial advice to developers and to the Legacy Corporation. This then feeds into the planning decision making process.

The Quality Review Panel assesses the design quality of schemes where the Legacy Corporation is client or landowner, and also provides advice to other developers and their design teams working in the Legacy Corporation area.

Since it was set up in 2012 the Quality Review Panel has reviewed some 60 schemes – ranging in scale from a major masterplan for a new neighbourhood to a new primary school.

The Quality Review Panel initially reviews a scheme at strategic design stage – to test its fundamental assumptions. After planning applications are submitted, a further assessment supports the Legacy Corporation, as the planning authority, in insisting on well designed developments.