04 Dec 2008
In a speech today, Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chief Executive David Higgins set out the benefits that hosting the London 2012 Games are already delivering for the UK economy and the long-term regeneration that the work of the ODA is driving in east London.
Speaking at a conference hosted by the Major Projects Association, David Higgins said: 'There has been some discussion this week questioning the economic and regeneration benefits that hosting the London 2012 Games will bring. In fact, the preparations to host the Games are already delivering a shot in the arm for UK plc at a time of need and the work we are doing to build the Olympic Park will be felt long after 2012.
'In a challenging economic climate, work on the Olympic Park has already created nearly 3,000 new jobs with nearly one in ten of those working on site previously unemployed. Up to 9,000 construction workers will be needed at the peak of construction.
'The Games are also already creating huge opportunities for UK businesses with over 800 companies, 98 per cent of them UK based, securing over £3.5bn worth of work to supply the ODA to date. With work on the Olympic Park accelerating, the Games will continue to offer businesses of all sizes a range of opportunities at a difficult time.
'Our plans for 2012 are driven by legacy and together with the economic benefits the Games are already delivering, the positive impact of hosting the Games will also be felt long after 2012. With 75 pence in every £1 being spent on the long term regeneration of east London, investment in 2012 Games will help deliver:
- 2.5sq km of brownfield land remediated to create a large new urban, the equivalent size of Hyde Park
- Previously contaminated land transformed into 110ha of new open space
- Up to 3,000 new homes in the Olympic Village, surrounded by new parks, open space and community facilities
- More than 30 new bridges, 20km of roads and 8km of revitalised waterways
- 5 permanent new world-class sporting venues
- Tens of kilometres of new utilities networks providing electricity, heat, water, sewerage and gas to the legacy communities
- Helping fund improvements to create world-class transport links, turning Stratford into one of the best connected places in the capital.'
– Ends –
The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.
Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our
blog.
