Vision

The Green Spine is a key part of the transformation of Belvedere and Mandeville Place into Park Centre, a vibrant new destination at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Designed around the principles of landscape and nature, Park Centre will create a distinctive identity for this important part of the Park, making it more welcoming, enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

As part of the wider vision for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a leading 21st-century destination, the Green Spine will help create a safer, greener and more inclusive experience for residents, workers and visitors alike. It will form a strong north-south connection through Park Centre, linking different parts of the Park and making it easier and more enjoyable to move between them.

Today, this area is primarily experienced as a route through the Park, used by joggers, cyclists, school communities and visitors travelling to events. While it becomes a busy hub during major events, the space currently offers limited opportunities to stop, relax or enjoy the surroundings, with existing seating exposed to sun and wind.

The Green Spine will transform this experience. A continuous ribbon of trees, planting and green infrastructure will soften the hard edges of roads and bridges, creating a greener and more attractive environment. A new avenue of trees will provide a clear and memorable route through Park Centre, helping people navigate the Park while enjoying a landscape rich in colour, texture and seasonal change.

Inspired by the unique character of the North and South Park, the planting will create a gradual transition between these different landscapes, weaving them together into a cohesive ecological corridor. The design will not only enhance biodiversity and climate resilience but also help define spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, improving comfort and safety for all users.

New landforms, planting and carefully integrated seating will create a variety of places to pause, meet friends, watch the world go by or simply enjoy being outdoors. By providing shelter from wind and shade from the sun, the Green Spine will encourage people to spend more time in Park Centre, transforming it from a place people pass through into a destination in its own right.

The result will be a greener, healthier and more inviting heart to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where nature, movement and community come together to create a memorable place for everyone.