ODA welcomes Olympic Park planning recommendations

The decision takes the ODA a significant step towards creating one of the largest new urban parks in Europe for 150 years.

The 10,000 page applications, among the biggest planning applications in European history, were submitted in February this year outlining plans for new sporting venues, highways, bridges, river works, utilities, and open space in the Olympic Park and their post-Games reconfiguration for legacy use.

The applications were submitted to the ODA’s Planning Decisions Team (PDT), an independent body responsible for processing all applications relating to the Olympic Park on behalf of the ODA’s Planning Committee, which includes Councillors from the four boroughs in the Olympic Park and externally appointed independent members.

Following a public meeting in Stratford last night, the Planning Committee recommended the applications for approval. The recommendations will now go to the Government Office for London (GOL) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) for approval before permission for the applications is granted.

Chief Executive of the ODA, David Higgins, said:

“These planning applications are the backbone of our vision to create a world-class Olympic Park and a benchmark 21st Century urban environment so this recommendation is a significant step forwards.

“Once the planning permissions for the Olympic Park are granted, there will be more consultation on detailed planning applications for individual venues and on the legacy masterplan, so there will continue to be opportunities for people to comment on the plans for the future Olympic and legacy Park.

“With the planning of the Park making good progress, work is already well underway on site to prepare the platform on which to construct the Olympic Park. The clean-up of the site is underway and an intensive demolition programme of over 250 buildings has begun - we are firmly on track and exactly where we planned to be at this stage of the project.”

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said:

“London 2012 will be a prime example of sport acting as a catalyst for regeneration, and the planning application we have submitted for the Olympic Park clearly shows the transformational power of the Games. This is one of the biggest and most complex planning applications ever prepared in this country, so the news that it has been recommended for approval is another key milestone for us on the road to 2012.”

Chair of the London Development Agency, Mary Reilly, said:

“The proposals form the lynchpin of the regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley – the 2012 Games will have a catalytic effect in redeveloping the area, kick-starting the physical regeneration. The construction phase is just the start and will breathe new life into the area which will ultimately see new homes, better employment opportunities and improved skills – and of course world class sporting facilities. This recommendation brings all of those benefits one step closer for the communities of east London.”

News that the planning applications have been recommended for approval was also welcomed by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, a key stakeholder in the transformation of the Olympic Park site who have already been identified as the legacy operator of the VeloPark.

Chief Executive for Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Shaun Dawson, said:

“With just under five years to go we are delighted that this planning application has been recommended for approval. We now look forward to working with the ODA preparing for the Games, enjoying them in 2012 and realising our aspirations for the Olympic Park in legacy mode”

The Olympic Park planning applications cover a land area of 246 hectares (2.5 sq kilometres) and are made up of two core elements:

The Site Preparation Planning Application which seeks permission for early works to allow the development of Olympic facilities and their legacy transformation, including:

• Remediation, demolition and earthworks to prepare the land for construction
  
• Extensive works to waterways, including the construction of new river walls and flood defence walls
  
• The construction of new highways and a continuous Loop Road surrounding the Olympic Park, to provide initial construction access, and give vehicles back-of-house venue access in Games mode
  
• The construction of an underground utilities corridor
  

The Olympic and Legacy Transformation Planning Application, which seeks permission for the core construction work and post-Games reconfiguration of infrastructure for legacy use, including:

• The construction of 5 permanent venues (Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Velopark, Handball Arena, Eton Manor) and 3 temporary sporting venues (Basketball Arena, Hockey Venue, Fencing Venue)
  
• The construction of an International Broadcast Centre / Main Press Centre
  
• Earthworks and extensive landscaping to create open space areas and achieve an Olympic Park that is accessible, usable and varied in its topography
  
• Permanent and temporary structures, roads and bridges
  
• Site-wide utilities infrastructure
  
• Extensive post-Games legacy regeneration work including: partial deconstruction, demolition, dismantling and construction of venues to form legacy sports, leisure and entertainment venues; earthworks and landscaping to provide permanent public open spaces and outdoor sports and changing facilities; and reconfiguration to form buildings for office and industrial use.

Following their submission in February, the planning applications were subject to statutory public consultation to allow members of the public to give their comments. Two rounds of consultation took place from February to March and from May to June. Both rounds of consultation included 195,000 leaflets delivered to homes and community facilities within 2.5 miles of centre of Olympic Park along with a three day drop-in surgery at the Planning Committee’s offices in Stratford.

The Planning Committee comprises two ODA board members, four councillors recommended by the four boroughs directly affected by the Olympic Park and five independent members appointed following an external advertisement.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700 or visit the website at www.london2012.com.

Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our Work in Progress blog http://blog.london2012.com