Key information
Request reference number: MGLA020424-9930
Date of response:
Summary of request
Please disclose to me any recorded information showing any assessment made by the GLA, or by others advising them (including Westminster City Council), of the impact on residents, businesses and others likely to be affected in any way, of locating a UEFA Champions League Fans Meeting Point, to be operated on 1 June 2024 at Victoria Embankment. For the avoidance of doubt, this should include (but not be limited to) any information referencing the consideration of relevant Mayoral Policy, such as the London Plan relating to matters including residential amenity, sustaining and promoting communities.
Our response
The GLA does not hold the information within the scope of your request.
Under our section 16 duty to provide advice and assistance, I can inform you that Westminster City Council advised the GLA to consult with local businesses and residents to establish what the impact would be on them. The GLA therefore:
- Issued letters to businesses and residents within the area informing them of the license applications
- Placed public notices up within the agreed area.
- Held two business and resident engagement meetings via Microsoft Teams. As part of the consultation period
The first letter drop was sent on 23 February 2024 notifying business and residents within the Victoria Embankment area of this license application. The license application was submitted on the 27 February 2024. This was followed by a 28-day consultation period where the GLA arranged two online consultation meetings with businesses and residents on 20 March 2024 and 22 April 2024.
The GLA commissioned Steer group to research areas of inner London which would be suitable
for fan meeting points.
They investigated two different site categories (parks/open spaces and streets). Steer had four
objectives when conducting their research, as follows:
- Good public transport connections to Wembley Stadium.
- Hold up to 30,000 fans as well as concessions and screens.
- Location to be photogenic and provide a good fan experience.
- To limit impacts on the wider transport network.
The GLA engaged with The Royal Parks to establish which of their sites across London would
be suitable. The only available and suitable site was Hyde Park.