London Legacy Development Corporation

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), established in April 2012 by the Mayor of London as a Mayoral Development Corporation, succeeded the Olympic Park Legacy Company to drive the long-term regeneration of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and surrounding east London areas post-2012 Olympics. Its mission is to create a dynamic metropolitan centre through sustainable neighbourhoods, affordable housing, thriving business and cultural zones, improved infrastructure, and inclusive growth, prioritising social inclusion and opportunities for local people. Guided by values of ambition, responsibility, excellence, and collaboration, LLDC uniquely integrates strategic urban planning powers, development control, and funding, partnering with the Greater London Authority, local boroughs (Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), communities, and businesses for outcomes in housing, employment, health, wellbeing, and economic equity.

LLDC funds community infrastructure, neighbourhood improvements, placemaking, and sustainability via its flagship Neighbourhood Priorities Fund, drawn from Community Infrastructure Levy and developer contributions. Supported activities include sport, arts, gardening, and charitable projects that improve, replace, operate, or maintain facilities addressing development pressures, benefiting disadvantaged local residents through inclusive, community-building initiatives by social enterprises and groups.

Eligible applicants are small to medium-sized community groups and social enterprises delivering in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and neighbouring east London boroughs, with no formal income thresholds but preference for grassroots organisations with local ties. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; funding occurs via periodic targeted rounds with guidelines published on the website when open—no current deadlines, historically annual/biennial with 2-4 month decisions. Typical grants range £5,000-£50,000 (up to £276,000 for capital), covering project costs but excluding unrestricted, core, or emergency funding. Distinctive for its statutory governance, transparency, and blend of infrastructure investment with community grants, LLDC shapes east London's social and economic future.