During the Olympic Games, around 700 sailors, coaches and officials will be housed in 77 low-carbon homes to be built at Officer’s Field, Osprey Quay, Portland, Dorset. Roughly half that number will use the accommodation during the Paralympic Games.

The homes will meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, reducing carbon emissions by more than half compared with conventional new build properties.

After the Games, the two, three and four bedroom units will be made ready for sale and occupation. Twenty five per cent of the units, in a range of sizes, will be made available as affordable housing via a registered social landlord.

London 2012 Organising Chair Seb Coe said: 'This development offers consistency with the standards being achieved in the main Olympic Village in Stratford, and will be a great home for the athletes at Games time.

'We are confident that making temporary use of a permanent facility which is very much part of the impressive regeneration of Portland is the right solution for athletes and for Portland in the long-term.'