Olympic Park transformation begins following end of London 2012 Paralympic Games

Published on 10/09/2012 01:29

AFTER the big build and the gold rush comes the transformation of the Olympic Park.

Work to turn the 560-acre site in Stratford, east London, into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is set to take
18 months from October.

The new-look park will reopen to the public in phases from 27 July next year – a year after the opening of the London 2012 Olympics.

According to the plans, the new park will include 257 acres of open space, 6.5 km of waterways, nine direct rail links, five world-class sports venues, 2,000 events hosted annually and five new neighbourhoods.

If all goes to plan, the target is for 9.3 million visitors to pass through it annually from 2016.

The plans involve the removal of temporary venues after the Paralympics, such as the Basketball Arena. Balfour Beatty will also remove the temporary seating from the Aquatics Centre, leaving 2,500 seats for future use.

Major international competitions will be held at the Olympic Stadium, even though its new tenants have not yet been confirmed.

Four bids are in the running to make the showpiece venue their new home after the games.

Plans from West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Intelligent Transport Services in association with Formula One, and UCFB College of Football Business will be assessed to ensure they are compliant, before being evaluated ahead of negotiations,.

It is set to become the new national home for athletics and to host the IAAF 2017 World Athletics Championships.

The venue has been earmarked to become a leading centre for technology, design and research, which could generate more than 4,000 jobs.

The first homes on the park are due to be ready at the end of 2014.

Estimates suggest 800,000 visitors a year will use the Aquatics Centre when the park reopens.