Planning context

There are a number of key planning policy documents operating at different spatial scales that are relevant to Stratford.

One regional and two sub regional planning documents have been brought forward by the Mayor of London. The London Plan sets Stratford within the context of London’s continued growth, placing it in an ‘Opportunity Area’ and as a site for major development, expanding the functions of London. Beneath the London Plan sits the Sub-Regional Development Framework, which sets out the expansion of Stratford into a sustainable Metropolitan Centre. The Lower Lee Valley Opportunity Area Planning Framework (LLV OAPF) builds upon these documents and outlines ambitious plans for the area, which cross the four boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Newham Council is the statutory plan making authority for Stratford and the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) sets Stratford as a key growth area. This is taken forward in the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF), which will supersede the UDP when adopted. Importantly, the LDF will consist of three Area Action Plans (AAPs), which will set out local planning policies and propose site specific development opportunities. One of these AAPs will cover Stratford and Canning Town.

Planning Context

The planning decisions landscape in the Stratford area is complex, with three important bodies all with planning powers across varying geographical areas.

The London Borough of Newham

Newham Council retains planning powers for all areas within the Borough’s administrative boundary, except where a proposed development fall within the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation boundary and fulfils particular requirements (see below), or when it falls within land relating to the ODA Planning Area. Newham's Planning Team.

The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC)

The LTGDC has the power to determine planning applications relating to the ‘major’ development within the boundaries set out in the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (Planning Functions) Order 2005. This means that large scale development in key areas of Stratford, such as the Island Site (including the existing shopping centre) and the High Street, will fall to the LTGDC to determine.

The types of planning application the LTGDC have powers to determine includes development which comprises or includes the provision of 50 or more houses or flats and development that comprises or includes the provision of 2,500 or more square metres of floorspace, where the development is not solely for houses or flats. For a full list of circumstances where the LTGDC have planning powers visit www.ltgdc.org.uk/planning.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)

The ODA is the planning authority for the Olympic Park and Stratford City area. Any planning application relating to land within the ODA Planning Area must be submitted to the ODA Planning Authority, rather than to the local borough.

During the period running up to the 2012 Games, the four boroughs will not handle most of the planning applications in the ODA Planning Area. All planning applications in this area will need to be made to the ODA, though the ODA may pass an application back to a local borough for decision if it is unrelated to the 2012 Games.

The ODA has set up a Planning Committee to take decisions on applications. The committee will be supported by the ODA Planning Decisions Team. The ODA Planning Decisions Team registers and validates all applications within the ODA Planning Boundary.

The ODA has taken the decision to pass back the determination of the planning application for Zone 1 of Stratford City to Newham Council.