Margaret Ford to leave legacy company

Baroness Margaret Ford is to step down as chair of the Olympic Legacy body after this summer’s games.

Ford, a former Labour peer who is now a cross-bencher, said she did not have the time required to devote to the intense period of work required after the Games, and had decided to leave.

The news came as the mayor of London Boris Johnson announced the new identity for the legacy company once it becomes a development corporation with statutory planning powers.

The body, currently called the Olympic Park Legacy Company, will become the London Legacy Development Corporation on 1 April.

Johnson hailed Ford’s “huge contribution over the last three years”. He said: “We have an extraordinarily exciting period ahead. Building on the momentum already created by the Legacy Company we are on track to grasp this unique opportunity and harness the Olympic legacy of new jobs, new homes and new communities which Londoners will benefit from for years to come.”

Ford said: “The next phase of the legacy work, including major transformation plans to the park, are critical and will require a great deal of attention.  I have decided therefore that I cannot continue to give the substantial time required for the role so after the Games would seem a natural point to make the change. 

“But for now it is business as usual and I look forward to continuing to work over the next six months on the further challenges that lie ahead.”