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The London Olympics to be held in 2012 provide a major opportunity and challenge for the UK construction industry. The development will consume in the region of £2.4 billion of public funding to be spent on the venues, infrastructure and transport facilities. But who will co-ordinate this programme of work and when will we see the results – and for those involved in the industry what are the opportunities?
The bodies with management responsibility are:
The London Development Agency (LDA)
This body will take responsibility for projects in advance of the formation of the Olympic Delivery Agency.
The Olympic Delivery Agency (ODA)
This body will be established by an Act of parliament that will be brought forward in the Olympic Bill. The ODA will be responsible for managing the public funding and for ensuring that all the infrastructure and venues are ready in time.
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic games (LOCOG)
This body will be responsible for organising the Olympic games events and will work with the ODA.
Key dates for the development of the infrastructure and venues are as follows:
| Year |
Activity |
Value |
| 2005 |
2005 London chosen to host the games
Contractor appointed for power lines contract in the Lea Valley
Appointment of design team for Olympic park and for Velopark
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| 2006 |
Wembley stadium completed
Work on upgrading of Wimbledon to commence
Work to start on Aquatics centre
Contracts announced for Olympic Park
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750m
70m |
| 2007 |
All land purchased and designs completed
Work to start on Velopark
Work to start on Olympic Village
Completion of bus way known as East London Transit
Scheme
Channel Tunnel rail link completed
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| 2008 |
2008 Heathrow Terminal 5 completed
Aquatics centre completed
Velopark completed
Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Woolwich Arsenal extension opens
Work on Olympic Stadium starts
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| 2009 |
2009 DLR extension from Canning Town to Stratford Regional
Station opens
Work to start on 4no. multi-sport arenas
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| 2010 |
Work to start on Paralympics complex
East London Line Tube extension opens
Work starts on Hockey Centre £15m
Work starts on Media Centre
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£15m |
| 2011 |
Completion of Hockey Centre
Completion of Olympic Stadium
Completion of Olympic Village £1,000m
Completion of multi-sport arenas £96m
Completion of Paralympics complex
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£281m
£1,000m
£96m
£6m
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| 2012 |
Completion of Equestrian events and pentathlon arenas at Greenwich Park
Completion of modifications to Wimbledon
Completion of temporary Beach Volleyball arenas at Horse Guards Parade
Completion of work to Millennium Dome to accommodateGymnastics and Basketball
Completion of changes to Lords Cricket Ground
Completion of arenas at Royal Dock
Completion of Indoor Shooting hall at the Royal Artillery Barracks
Completion of temporary Greenwich arena for Badminton and Gymnastics
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£9m
£0.6m
£73m
£2.5m
£2.6m
£21m
£18m
£14m
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27 July
12 Aug |
Olympics opening ceremony
Olympics closing ceremony
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It will be interesting to follow the progress of the proposed developments to see if the construction industry can deliver such a high profile public project to time and within budget. Keep this article posted!
Author: Kevin McKee
Date: September 2005
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