David Higgins, the chief executive designate of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), has announced that plans for the Olympic Park in east London have been updated to improve layout, legacy benefits and security for the London 2012 Games.
The main change is that the Olympic Village – the site of the athlete’s accommodation and legacy housing – is to be integrated with the adjacent Stratford City Development.
Further changes include moving the International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre from its proposed site in Pudding Mill Lane to within the Park security cordon; and to use a multi-storey car-park in Stratford City, thus freeing up the Fish Island area which was to be used for temporary car and coach parking.
The move allows the ODA to begin construction work on the Village earlier than planned, but also means that nearly a third of the local businesses which were previously required to relocate, can remain where they are.
“Having the best possible design plan in place for the Olympic Park is an important part of preparations for the crucial construction phase for the London Games,” said Higgins.
“It is inevitable that there will be changes in delivering a project of this scale, but what is vital is that opportunities to strategically enhance the operation and long-term use of sites like the Olympic Park are identified as early as possible and this is what we are focusing on.”
“The integration of the Olympic Park and Stratford City projects has always been a key factor in our respective abilities to deliver both of these schemes successfully.”
Lord Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), added: “The changes will bring the facilities closer together within the Olympic Park, resulting in an improved layout which will make the site even more secure for all users, including athletes and spectators as well as visitors, staff and community groups.”
The Stratford City Development will include up to 1.5million sq ft (140,000sq m) of retail space, 400,000sq ft (37,000sq m) of leisure use, a hotel, 500 homes and up to a million sq ft (93,000sq m) of commercial office space.
The ODA is currently part of the London Development Agency until it is officially established as part of the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill.
