Design for London: BOROUGHS

The Lea River Park is a major new landscape project for East London, which will create a green 'spine' on the waterways of the Lower Lea Valley, connecting the Olympic park to the Thames. Design for London is working with the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) and the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority to develop and deliver this project, which also contributes to the delivery of the East London Green Grid.

A team led by 5th Studio developed the design framework, which sets out the vision for the Lea River Park. This was launched in summer 2008. Central Government granted the LTGDC funding of £27 million to help deliver the first phase by March 2011. Additional funding (for Three Mills Green) has already been secured from the Thames Gateway Parklands programme and further funding will be sought through bids and developer contributions.

The first phase will include three elements - a major new destination at East India Dock Basin on the Thames, a revitalized Three Mills Green and the 'fatwalk' connecting these projects with a generous, continuous linear open space. Following an open procurement process, the LTGDC appointed a team in January 2009 to deliver the first phase projects. This team is led by landscape architects Latz and Partner, working with 5th Studio, Jane Wernick Associates, Integral and Speirs and Major lighting designers

Design for London has been closely involved in the project throughout, from developing the project concept and identifying appropriate locations for new open spaces through the Lower Lea Valley Opportunity Area Planning Framework, to drafting the brief and selecting consultants for the design framework and first phase projects. Design for London provided design advice on the Lea River Park vision and project development and is now leading the design aspects of delivering the first phase projects.