UCL and V&A reveal 'Olympicopolis' plans in Stratford

Education and arts institutions could create new cultural hub at the Olympic Park

University College London and the V&A could both move to sites near the Olympic stadium under plans revealed in the government’s National Infrastructure Plan.

Dubbed ‘Olympicopolis’, the project is intended to create a major higher education and cultural district in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

A new UCL campus could include a design school, a centre for culture and heritage, biotech hub and a technology centre alongside start-up space for entrepreneurs.

The V&A is planning a space to exhibit more of its permanent collection as well as providing opportunities for touring exhibitions in partnership with other museums and galleries.

London mayor Boris Johnson said he hoped the site could eventually rival South Kensington as an educational and cultural destination.

Johnson is working with the Treasury and the London Legacy Development Corporation in an attempt to bring the plans to fruition.

“As our Olympic park re-opens, I want to raise our ambitions for this magnificent site to squeeze out every drop of potential,” he said.

“We want to use Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a catalyst for the industries and technologies in which London now leads the world.”

Stephen Caddick, UCL’s vice-provost for enterprise and lead on the Olympic Park project, described the plan as “hugely exciting”.

“East London has become a vibrant and dynamic place to live, work and start a business and we’re keen to do all we can to help accelerate the area’s growth and development by establishing a presence there,”he said.

In May UCL abandoned controversial plans to build a £1 billion campus on the site of the Carpenters Estate at the edge of the Olympic park.