London 2012's legacy under the spotlight

The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 today publishes a review of the Games’ legacy commitments entitled Assuring a Legacy – Promises, Progress and Potential. As the independent body providing assurance on the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the Games, the Commission’s legacy review investigates whether the organising bodies are delivering the legacy commitments, and makes recommendations where these commitments are in danger of being compromised. In addition, the review highlights new opportunities for legacy achievements in East London.

The Commission’s review focuses attention on the opportunity to deliver a sustainable legacy for East London, a region where employment, life chances, urban quality and amenities do not match up with the London average. The Commission has also considered how these opportunities could more widely benefit the UK as a whole.

A summary of the review’s main findings is below:

London 2012 is on track to have a social, environmental and economic legacy that is second-to-none, despite challenging economic times. London has gone further and farther than any other Games in achieving a sustainable legacy.

Challenges remain, particularly in relation to healthy living and waste infrastructure. There is a danger that the achievement of legacy objectives may drift off-course if care is not taken to make sure they remain responsive, strategic and targeted.

Opportunities to extend the legacy commitments must be seized, not missed. The evidence is beginning to show that it is possible to deliver above expectation in some areas. For example, the Commission has identified the potential to extend the approach to physical regeneration of the Park and lower Lea to cover the whole river valley. Opportunities like this could significantly benefit the green economy, healthy living and biodiversity, and would provide a blueprint for future large-scale projects.

The Olympic Park’s future is still highly dependent upon the quality and commitment of the legacy agency. The Commission would like the OPLC/LLDC to build on its good work by demonstrating publicly how it is embedding, resourcing and reporting on environmental and socio-economic sustainability throughout its core business by the end of April 2012.

The Commission recommends that the GLA and national government embed the lessons for sustainable procurement into the way they do business at London and national levels. This will ensure that the benefits of the Games are felt beyond East London.

LOCOG’s sizeable contribution to improving the sustainable events industry should be made widely available beyond the Games. This legacy of best practice examples and lessons learned would be an invaluable resource for UK industries.

Shaun McCarthy, Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, said:

"History teaches us that previous Games have not always been able to demonstrate a long-lasting legacy for local communities, sports facilities or the domestic economy of the host nation. 2012 is London’s chance to show to the world a lasting, positive and sustainable legacy is achievable.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for East London, with promises such as the future health of our young people and sustainable waste solutions at stake. Last year only one in three young people were active participants in sport – a figure which has not changed since 2006. The wider roadblocks need to be identified and tackled at a very pragmatic level with local leaders."

"We have also considered how to optimise the opportunities for legacy going beyond programme commitments – why settle for best practice when we could aspire to be world-leading? The legacy intent is admirable, but since 2004 a lot has happened and there are now many new opportunities which could be pursued. We have suggested these can only be truly grasped if we take a fresh and wider look at the legacy, going the extra mile for a sustainable future.

"We have been particularly impressed by the ODA and LOCOG’s efforts to raise the bar when it comes to issues like sustainable procurement, but unless the knowledge behind these projects is both made available and utilised, UK industry will find it hard to repeat these successes. Therefore, we have recommended that LOCOG, with appropriate support from Government, creates its own learning legacy that can be shared publicly before the Organising Committee is disbanded later this year."

For more information, visit: http://www.cslondon.org/.

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