Construction work starts on Olympic Village

Beds for athletes and new homes for Londoners move closer as building work begins on programme

The announcement was made by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and preferred development partner Lend Lease.

The Olympic Village will provide 17,000 beds for athletes and officials during the Olympic Games and 7,500 in the Paralympic Games. After 2012, it will leave the legacy of up to 3,500 new homes, many of which will be affordable, with the new communities supported by new parks, open space, community facilities and transport links.

Piling works are now underway on the Olympic Village site involve inserting concrete columns up to 24 metres in length into the soil to reinforce the ground where the first blocks of the Olympic Village will sit. The piling works will form the permanent foundations for the first blocks of the Olympic Village allowing works on the concrete substructure to start later in the summer.

David Higgins, ODA Chief Executive said: 'The start of construction on the Olympic Village is a significant milestone and maintains the progress and momentum of the project as we work through the financial arrangements. Given the challenging economic environment, we are in detailed discussions about the level of public investment in the Olympic Village. Clearly this will be a world-class development capable of delivering returns on any investment when the homes are sold after the Games.

'The Olympic Village is about more than just housing athletes during 2012, it will be an integral part of much wider regeneration, delivering new homes and community facilities in the heart of east London to ensure that the legacy of 2012 lives on for generations.'

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: 'The Olympic Village is a key part of the project. It is a haven for athletes at Games-time and a good, comfortable environment helps them prepare to compete well, in the most important competition of their lives. Athletes’ needs are at the heart of all our plans. It is therefore very encouraging to see the Olympic Village making good progress.

'It is a compact Village and it is essential that we continue to work closely with the ODA and Lend Lease in developing the athletes’ accommodation during the Games to ensure that the most is made of all areas. The latest plans for the Olympic Village were recently presented to the IOC’s Coordination Commission and they were well received.'

Lend Lease Europe Chairman, Nigel Hugill, said: 'We were all quietly very determined to have cranes operating well before the start of the forthcoming Games in Beijing. Foundation piling for the first block of the Athletes' Village is now well underway.

'More than fifteen of the brightest architectural practices from the UK and mainland Europe are now commissioned. They are working flat out with our own delivery teams to a clear brief which provides for substantial offsite prefabrication. As well as what could ultimately be up to 3,500 high quality homes, the designs include a major new health facility and a brand new school for 1,800 local 4-18 year olds. We are far from complacent but we are certainly content with delivery progress to date.'

Olympic Village facts and figures:

• 28 buildings on the Olympic Village site have been demolished including the largest building on the Olympic Park site - the former Frigoscandia factory - and the tallest buildings on the site - the two 12 storey former University of East London buildings.
• The Olympic Village will provide 17,000 beds for athletes and officials during the Olympic Games and 7,500 in the Paralympic Games.
• After the Games up to 3,500 new homes will be left, with 30% as affordable housing.
• Over 10 hectares of open space, including public squares and five parks will be created.
• A new Primary Healthcare Centre and an Academy School will be built for use by legacy communities and will initially be used for Games time operations during the 2012 Games.
• New transport facilities will be built including new bus routes, cycle lanes and pedestrian routes.
  

Notes to editors:

Discussions over the financial arrangements for the Olympic Village are continuing and the ODA and Lend Lease expect to sign interim agreements shortly. The initial construction works on the Olympic Village are being funded by the ODA ahead of the full financial arrangements being in place ahead of the main build later this year

Lend Lease and the ODA have selected over fifteen established and emerging designers from a shortlist of 47 practices to design key parts of the Olympic Village. The selected architectural and landscape design teams will work on different components of the project, ranging from courtyard housing with communal gardens to residential towers overlooking the Olympic Park. Further architects will be introduced to the scheme in due course.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.

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