Planning appeals put on hold in Olympic host boroughs

There has been a lot of questions raised for a while now about what effect the Olympics will have on day-to-day business in London.

It is therefore interesting to see that the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has taken the view that it is going to keep well away from any areas that are directly involved in the Olympics for the next 100 days.

With London 2012 fast approaching, the Inspectorate has written to the host councils most affected by the Games to inform that it will not be scheduling any further appeal hearings in those areas until after the event.

This means no more hearings or inquiries in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Greenwich as well as Weymouth and Portland borough council outside of London.

Other councils with smaller exposure to the Games are also being encouraged to accept hearings after the Olympics - that includes Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Windsor and Maidenhead.

Meanwhile, the London Legacy Development Corporation is seeking experts for an independent panel to help shape the future design of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Architects, environmentalists and development experts are being sought for a new Quality Review Panel.

The independent panel will advise on the design of the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - the name for the Olympic site after the Games.

The panel will provide informal advice as well as formally review the planning applications for proposals within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the wider Mayoral development area.

Around 12 to 15 panel members are being sought, from whom a chairperson and a vice-chairperson will be appointed.

Those who wish to apply must send a CV with two references and a covering letter outlining the contribution that they could make to LLDC@fortismere-associates.co.uk

More information can be found on the LLDC website at www.londonlegacy.co.uk