iCITY submits planning application for Olympic park
An application has been submitted to transform the former media centres in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park into a world-leading creative and digital business hub expected to generate 7,500 jobs.
Following public consultation earlier this year, iCITY refined its designs and has now published images of what the new facilities will look like if approved by the London Legacy Development Corporation.
This application represents a major step towards ensuring an Olympic legacy for Hackney which will unlock the full potential for regeneration and investment in this part of the borough. These exciting proposals will generate thousands of jobs and, alongside existing business, will firmly establish Hackney as the UK's centre for innovation in the broadcast, media and tech sectors. Hackney Council will be working with iCITY and its tenants to ensure local residents benefit from the many job, apprenticeship and training opportunities and can begin building meaningful careers in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
iCITY is a joint venture between real estate investment company Delancey and data centre operator Infinity SDC. If the project receives planning permission work is expected to begin next summer.
It will include a range of versatile spaces for individual start-up businesses to locate and grow, and a new yard will provide a unique space for activities from film screenings to markets, pop-up stalls and street food vendors, as well as a range of community events. The former briefing facility between the two buildings will be developed into a 1,000 seat auditorium, and there will also be a landscaped canal side with cafes, shops and restaurants.
BT Sport is already broadcasting live from the site and other key tenants Loughborough University, Hackney Community College and Infinity SDC are expected to relocate in 2015. The entire iCITY area will be fully operational by 2018 and is expected to create about 7,500 jobs - 5,300 on-site and a further 2,200 in the local community.
iCITY has committed to working closely with its tenants to ensure they create employment opportunities for local people.
Chief Executive Gavin Poole said: “As well as creating thousands of jobs and training opportunities, our plans will provide a new community destination for East London with new facilities for local residents and opportunities for local businesses.
“iCITY will attract the best talent, companies and investment from around the world. We now very much look forward to moving into the construction phase and delivering a lasting economic and social legacy from London 2012.”
The project will feature three main buildings: a 300,000 sq ft innovation centre; a 1,000 seat auditorium; and a 850,000 sq ft building housing educational space, broadcast studios, office space, and a state-of-the-art data centre. iCITY has already secured a number of tenants and is more than 40% pre-let.
The London Legacy Development Corporation will determine the planning application, with Hackney Council being a formal consultee.