Lib Dem Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon

 As the Paralympics is now drawing to a close, local people will be thinking about what is going to happen to the venues and the Olympic Park as a whole.The following update has been received from Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Leader on the London Assembly:   

Earlier this year the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) was established to deliver the physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and surrounding area after the 2012 Games. This new mayoral body takes over from a number of organisations and will have planning powers from October 2012.   

Much work has been carried out to ensure that there is a permanent future for each permanent venue in the park.   

The Stadium has received four bids: from West Ham United, Intelligent Transport Services in association with Formula One, UCFB College of Football Business and Leyton Orient. They are now being evaluated ahead of negotiations. These bids would add to the legacy uses already secured for the Stadium such as host to the IAAF 2017 World Athletics Championships.   

The Aquatics Centre will be operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited and will cater for all levels of swimming ability and aquatic disciplines for the community and training athletes. Similarly the Handball Arena LINK will be transformed into a multi-use arena used for a wide range of indoor sports training and competitions as well as cultural and business events.   

The Velodrome will be owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and will be known as the Lee Valley VeloPark. The velodrome will need very little transformation and will become the hub of the VeloPark. The BMX track will remain, but be reconfigured, and a road cycle circuit and mountain bike courses will be added.   

The Press and Broadcast Centre now has a preferred bidder iCITY to become the long term tenant. iCITY aims to create a leading centre for technology, design and research with the potential to generate more than 4,000 jobs. The digital hub would harness innovation and creativity in east London. The iCity vision also has a community focus including a conference centre and a pedestrian square for broadcasting major sporting events, along with cafes, restaurants and bars.   

After the 2012 Games, the park will be closed and works will start to take down temporary venues and to adapt some of the existing venues for future use, as well as building more housing. The park will be re-opening in phases starting in 2013.   

VIEW TUBE AND ACCESS ALONG THE GREENWAY – this facility is due to reopen towards the end of the year.

October 2012 – Summer 2013

During this period the following temporary buildings are scheduled to be removed:   

• Basketball Arena

• Temporary bridges

• Riverbank Hockey Arena

• Water Polo Arena

• The temporary seating wings at the Aquatics Centre

The new Waterden Road will be connected to give access to Park facilities and the neighbouring boroughs

Similarly a series of new bridges will also link the Park with the communities

Completion of building work on the following projects is scheduled: 

• North Park Hub is to be a community centre dedicated to nature, in the green landscape of the North Park

• South Park Hub and Plaza will be the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s main destination for events, culture and entertainment

• Lee Valley Velopark will be adapted for public use, with alterations to the cycle circuits as well as surrounding amenities

• Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centres will be adapted for public use

• Chobham Manor housing development

February 2013

• Canal Park  scheduled for completion

July 2013

• Multi-Use Arena and North Park are scheduled to open

August 2013

• London Cycling Festival, a 100 mile route followed by up to 30,000 participants is the first major event schedulede to take place in the Park

Summer 2013

• East Village – the first housing development scheduled to open. This is the area that was the Athletes’ Village.

End 2013 – Start 2014

• Lee Valley Velopark due to open in December 2013

• Lee Valley Tennis and Hockey Centres due to open

• White Post Lane and Carpenters Lock will provide key access routes

• Waterways – cleaned and refurbished before the Games – will open

Spring 2014

• South Park and Hub due to reopen