The Olympic Park Masterplan
Building venues and dreams for the next generation
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Our vision for the Olympic Park site flows from one over-riding principle – that London 2012 is about hosting a summer of brilliant Olympic and Paralympic sporting competition and also leaving a lasting legacy that will endure for generations to come. We are determined that London 2012 should be the catalyst for significant regeneration that changes lives and communities. All the improvements to the Olympic Park site have been made to support and enhance this vision.
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Sebastian Coe Chair of London 2012 Organising Committee
David Higgins CEO of the Olympic Delivery Authority
About the changes In January we announced improvements to the Olympic Park. These reduced the amount of land required for the Games – meaning that 80 businesses supporting around 1,000 jobs no longer needed to relocate. They also better integrate the site with the commercial developments already planned at Stratford. We made clear at the time that there might be further modifications as more work was done to integrate the use of the site at Games-time with the legacy needs and aspirations of the area. The final masterplan will significantly improve the Olympic Park for the Games and for legacy use. The plan has been approved by the International Olympic Committee and we believe it will enhance the Games experience for athletes, spectators, media and sponsors alike. The masterplan allows us to move to the next stage of the project – securing any necessary planning permissions for the revisions and moving ahead with venue design. Unlike the changes announced in January, these proposals do not reduce the amount of land needed for the Olympic Park and legacy developments.
Legacy / Sustainability These changes significantly enhance the sporting and community benefits of the Games. The IBC and MPC will be modified and used after the Games to provide high quality workspace supporting the London Borough of Hackney’s development plans. There will be indoor sports facilities left in legacy in Hackney. A number of options are being tested including retaining the Handball venue as a major sports arena. Another is to modify two of the southern-most buildings of the IBC into a multi purpose arena and a six court sports hall. The facilities for Paralympic Tennis and Archery that are now north of the A12 will be combined with the two Hockey pitches being relocated after the Games. This will form a new and permanent Tennis and Hockey complex in Waltham Forest and offer the opportunity for a mix of other sporting facilities on this site which can be used by local communities. Combined with the Velopark and the improvement to Hackney Marshes this amounts to a significant sporting legacy in the north of the park.
These changes mean that the communities who will live in the Olympic Village after the Games will now have direct access and views over the Park, as the Hockey facilities will be positioned elsewhere. A Loop Road of around four miles is being built around the Olympic Park for the Games. A significant part of this will remain in legacy. Deliverability / Sustainability These changes will make the Olympic Park more sustainable. The plan is now more closely designed to the existing topography of the site and will help preserve natural characteristics. We anticipate that the amount of earth that will have to be moved within the Park could be reduced by as much as a half with a proportional decrease in the amount moved off site. This will help limit local disruption.
The Olympic Experience These changes will improve the Olympic experience for athletes, spectators, sponsors and the media. There will now be an area north of the Olympic Village which will be used for athlete training. Media will now have direct access to press and broadcast facilities in the Park – potentially saving them up to 30 minutes a day in travel and security. Moving Basketball down to a location north-west of the Olympic Stadium provides a holding area for athletes to gather prior to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The Sponsors’ Village will now be adjacent to the main centre of the Park giving great views of the venues.
Site Design The Site Design is also enhanced. For example: The Park in Games mode is now anchored in the north by the velodrome and in the south by the Stadium enhancing the concept of a strong cluster of sports to the north around the River Lea. There is now space at the Stratford site for additional security and spectator facilities close to the Olympic Stadium. Cost These changes will not cost more money. By agreeing the final masterplan at this stage of the project, the ability to bear down on potential cost increases and to make future cost savings is significantly increased.
The changes explained The map below shows the previous plan for the Olympic Park. The map on the right shows the final masterplan as announced on June 7, 2006. All the changes are outlined in the red box on the right.
International Broadcast Centre and Media / Press Centre (IBC / MPC) The IBC and MPC relocates from Stratford City Development land to a larger site in the northwest corner of the Olympic Park at Hackney Wick – previously the site of two of the three western arenas. Volleyball To accommodate the move of the IBC and MPC, Volleyball moves to Earls Court. Basketball The Basketball arena, a temporary venue, moves down to the current site of the Fencing halls, northwest of the Olympic Stadium. Handball The arena for Handball is unchanged and remains in the north-west of the Park. Fencing Fencing moves to a new location beside the Olympic Village and will be held in one temporary hall rather than two. Hockey Hockey moves from the northeast of the site to the north-west – next to the IBC and MPC. In legacy the Hockey facility will move north of the A12. Cycling The Velopark, which includes the Velodrome and the BMX track, moves south of the A12 to the area previously planned for Hockey and Paralympic Tennis. This positions the cycling facilities next to the Olympic Village, which in legacy will become a new and vibrant community. Paralympic Tennis and Archery Paralympic Tennis and Archery move north of the A12 to the site vacated by the Velopark.
2012 Games Illustration
(BEFORE)
2012 Games Illustration
(AFTER)
Who is who? The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be delivered by two main organisations: The London 2012 organising committee will organise, publicise and stage the 2012 Games. A summarised version of this publication is available on request in other languages and formats. To obtain a copy please: Email: enquiries@london2012.com Phone: 0203 2012 000
The Olympic Delivery Authority will deliver the venues and infrastructure for 2012 and beyond.
London 2012 One Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LN, United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)203 2012 000 www.london2012.com