New planning consent unlocks one of London’s most significant opportunities for large-scale academic growth.

LONDON, UK, 8 JULY 2026 – Here East, the award-winning innovation and creative campus in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park owned by Delancey, has secured planning consent to deliver a major expansion of 121,000 sq ft (11,258 sqm) of flexible higher education space – unlocking one of London’s most significant opportunities for academic growth at scale.

With planning consent secured for this major new higher education space, Here East is a direct solution to one of London’s most pressing challenges: the lack of space for universities to expand at scale – at a time when demand for growth is rapidly increasing.

Located on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Here East brings together leading academic institutions – including UCL, Loughborough University London, Staffordshire University London, LMA, and Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti – alongside global businesses such as Sports Interactive, Studio Wayne McGregor, and Ford Mobility.

The expansion will enable a new generation of institutions to join – and scale –  within this ecosystem, benefiting from immediate proximity to industry partners, advanced facilities and a collaborative campus designed for real-world impact.

Future occupiers will also be part of the wider East Bank district, alongside major new institutions including V&A East Storehouse, forming one of Europe’s most significant concentrations of education, culture and industry.

More than 7,000 people work and study on campus each day across education, research, technology and creative production. The campus offers flexible teaching space, advanced research facilities and large-scale production studios, designed to support direct collaboration between academia and industry.

Plexal, Here East’s on-site innovation company, connects start-ups, scale-ups, corporates, government and academia to solve complex challenges.

The Mayor of London’s Growth Plan identifies the innovation district surrounding Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a key driver of the capital’s future economic growth, reinforcing Here East’s role in supporting London’s next generation of talent and enterprise.

Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, commented: “London faces a critical shortage of space for universities to grow at scale – and opportunities like this are exceptionally rare.

“Here East is part of the solution. We are enabling universities to expand meaningfully, at scale, within a live ecosystem of industry, innovation and creativity.

“This is where ideas are accelerated, talent is developed, and research is translated into real-world impact. As London competes globally, places that can operate at this scale – and connect education directly with industry – will be essential to driving long-term economic growth.”