Next step for Olympic Stadium

Negotiations with Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd began last October, when the team was confirmed as the preferred bidder for the Stadium contract.

A huge amount of design and value engineering work has already taken place, but the signing of the MoU means designs can now be developed further, ready for release in the autumn.

The MoU also allows for early procurement of commodities such as steel needed to build the Stadium, which will seat 80,000 in Games-time and convert to 25,000 after 2012.

Building work is scheduled to start in summer 2008.

David Higgins, Chief Executive of the ODA said: 'This is an important step forward in the delivery of the flagship venue for the Olympic Park for Games and for legacy. The Olympic Stadium is a highly complex engineering challenge with its mix of temporary and permanent seating.

'I have every confidence that the designs we unveil later this year will be a worthy stage for the 2012 Games. Team Stadium is a world class consortium and we will now be working even more closely together as they co-locate with us at Canary Wharf.'

23 July 2007