David Higgins announces next Olympic milestones to London Assembly

The next ten milestones in the programme to deliver the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 Games were set out today by David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Mr Higgins told the London Assembly that the ODA's priority was to get the planning right at this early stage.

Mr Higgins said: "It is by putting the right building blocks in place at the start of the process, by having clarity and certainty through timely decision making that you are best able to bear down on cost and delay. With the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games there can be no Plan B. The Games will start on 27 July, 2012, and they will start in London, so it is vital that we plan for success."

The ten key milestones ahead for the Olympic Delivery Authority are:

• Announcing the ODA's programme timetable in July, including target start and completion dates for Games venues
• Publication of the ODA procurement strategy for stakeholder consultation in July
• The appointment of the full ODA executive team by July
• The conclusion of the CPO Inquiry hearings into the acquisition of land for the Olympic Park, with the acquisition led by the London Development Agency and 90 per cent of the land now under public control
• The announcement tomorrow by the ODA and LDA of the two key remediation and demolition contractors
• The appointment in August of the Delivery Partner, the programme manager for the Olympic Park construction and infrastructure work and the biggest single contract to be let this year
• The first phase of community engagement in East London about the new site masterplan, which was announced last week
• The publication of the Olympic Transport Plan for consultation in September
• The start of the procurement process for the Stadium this summer and progress on the procurement of the Aquatics Centre later this year
• The submission of a new planning application for the Olympic Park site in January next year, following the publication of the new masterplan

Mr Higgins said: "In the first six months we have hit our major milestones. It is essential that we maintain this momentum and continue to plan for success."

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Notes to Editors
The Olympic Delivery Authority is a statutory corporation set up under the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006.


Media Enquiries
Contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on 020 3 2012 700