London 2012 on track to be the ‘Regeneration Games’

John was speaking at a British Urban Regeneration Association dinner. He said ‘The legacy ambitions of London 2012 run through everything we do. In 2007 understandably there was a lot of focus on costs. In 2008 this will switch to the benefits this investment will bring, including the transformation of neglected industrial land into a new urban park.

‘Since we gained possession of the Olympic Park last year two-thirds of the site has been cleared, demolition on the ‘Big Five’ venue sites is complete and the Park is beginning to take shape ready for construction to start later this summer.

‘Later this year we will start removing 52 electricity pylons, a historic physical barrier to regeneration, so that power for the Games and legacy communities can be switched to two 6km tunnels that have been dug beneath the Olympic Park.

‘However, regeneration is more than just physical transformation, it is also about social and economic change. In the next few weeks we will launch various schemes aimed at ensuring that London 2012 leaves a real long-term employment and skills legacy for local people and UK construction.’

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