A new outpost for the V&A is part of a £1.1 billion plan for London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford to be transformed into the “East Bank,” a cultural hub hosting branches of Sadler’s Wells, London College of Fashion and University College London (UCL).

London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced, via Twitter: "Great cities are defined by ambition as much as achievements - East Bank is the most ambitious new project of its kind for decades & will inspire more young Londoners to take up creative careers, transforming the communities of east London."

The V&A has appointed Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), with Austin-Smith:Lord, to lead the design of a pioneering new Collection and Research Centre for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

This new centre will transform access to thousands of objects from the V&A’s unparalleled collections of art, design and performance not currently on display, and forms part of the expanded V&A East project alongside a new museum, inspired by Balenciaga fashion, designed by the Dublin-based practice O’Donnell + Tuomey.

The V&A’s new Collection and Research Centre will be part of the museum’s expanded V&A East project, where it is set to complement the new museum planned for Stratford Waterfront - ten minutes’ walk across the Park. The creation of the centre follows the government’s 2015 decision to sell Blythe House, where a vast array of objects from the V&A’s world-leading collections of art,
design, and performance are currently held. Both sites will be open to the public, and united through their displays, research and learning activities, and public programmes, and form part of an Olympic legacy collaboration with other world-leading institutions across culture and education.

The area will also hold BBC’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the BBC Singers and host Proms performances. Khan said: "My vision for East Bank is one where everyone, regardless of their background, can access world-class culture and education on their doorstep."