Aug 1 2007
The London Development Agency (LDA) today handed over the Olympic Park site to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), on time and on budget, after completing one of the most complicated land assembly operations in modern time.
The ODA has immediately begun a programme to demolish over 250 buildings over the next year starting with an old print works on the site of the new Olympic Stadium site.
It follows the acquisition of 2,200 land and property interests spread across an area equivalent to London's Hyde Park. The LDA has supported 193 businesses to move by the end of July. Almost all have relocated to new premises securing 98% of the 4,750 jobs on site. The Agency also has supported 425 residents, 35 traveller families and 64 allotment holders to find new homes and premises nearby.
From now until the Beijing Games in 2008 the ODA will 'Dig, Demolish, Design' the Olympic Park. Work has started cleaning over 1.4 million tonnes of contaminated soil and demolishing buildings to prepare the land for construction to begin next year. Concept designs for the Aquatics Centre and Velodrome have been unveiled and designs for the Olympic Stadium will follow later this year.
Manny Lewis, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, said:
"Our support for the 2012 Games began before London even won the bid because of the much needed benefits it would bring to the East End and Londoners as a whole. The land assembly is the foundation of that change and it marks a huge milestone. It has been one of the largest and most complicated of its kind, yet delivered on time and on budget.
"For three years we have supported a range of individuals, communities and groups through the relocation process. By helping businesses find new sites we have so far safeguarded 98% of jobs and in every case we will continue to offer support as people settle into their new homes and premises.”
David Higgins, Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said:
"The London Development Agency has done a fantastic job over the last two years to sensitively relocate the residents and businesses on the Olympic site. It has been a huge challenge, achieved following proper processes and completed on time.
"This is a project without precedent. Twice the size of Heathrow T5 in half the time and one of the biggest construction jobs in the world. We are exactly where we planned to be at this stage of the project. Now we will have full control of the site the pace of work can really accelerate. We are right on track with the demolition work starting on the Stadium site. Designs of the Stadium will be published later this year and we are very confident that they will show a flagship venue fit for the honour of staging the Games."
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said:
"This is a truly fantastic achievement. With the world watching and many cynics predicting failure and that the 2012 Games would be jeopardized the London Development Agency worked professionally and steadily to assemble the land needed for the 2012 Games on time and budget.
"They must be particularly credited for their foresight in forging relationships with businesses and the community twelve months before we even knew we were going to host the 2012 Games and at the same time starting work on the new business parks for the firms to relocate to. As well as being noted by the International Olympic Committee, this early action meant that as soon as we heard the fantastic news in Singapore on July 6 2005 we were ready to begin our preparations for the 2012 Games."
Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said:
"This is a major milestone for the Games and I congratulate the LDA on an excellent job. The acquisition of the land is obviously critical for the successful delivery of this project, enabling us to accelerate work on site."
"The LDA has laid the foundations for the regeneration of the Olympic Park area, which will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come."
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said:
"This is yet another important milestone met and an essential next step as we move in to the next dig, demolish and design stage of the Games.
"We have made excellent progress so far - a fact recognised recently by the International Olympic Committee, with the head of their group monitoring 2012 describing our progress as the best he has seen.
"I am determined that we will continue to make good progress and deliver not only the best Games ever, but one that is on time and on budget."