Legacy of London 2012 Olympic Park branded unclear

PLANS for the use of the Olympic Park post 2012 have been branded unclear by a London Assembly report.

FACING UNCERTAINTY: No decision has yet been made on the use for the Olympic Stadium
post 2012 despite interest from a number of sports (Getty Images)

The long running saga has taken another twist after the Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee said the uncertainty over the Park's use was undermining the cultural legacy of the Games.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe has recently reiterated his desire to keep the Olympic Stadium for track and field events but Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been careful to keep options open for its use.

The £500m stadium has attracted interest from a number of other sports and most recently West Ham's new owners David Gold and David Sullivan have expressed an interest in using the stadium.

The current plan is to reduce the stadium from an 80,000 to a 25,000-seater venue with an athletics track, which has proved a sticking point for football clubs interested in the site.

"The media centre and the Olympic Stadium are potentially the most important venues in terms of attracting jobs and investment to the park, so it is crucial that sustainable uses are identified and delivered," the report said.

"The continuing uncertainty about the future of the main stadium undermines the potential to plan for legacy ahead of the 2012 Games.

"For example, the arrival of a Premier League football team in the middle of the Olympic Park may affect the character of the park and its surroundings.

"It is important that the taxpayers see a return on the investment made by the Olympic Delivery Authority, and also that the village dovetails into the wider housing strategy for the park and the surrounding area."

Efforts should also be made to ensure the thousands of new homes being built on the park are available to local people, not just wealthy outsiders, the report adds.

The £1.1bn Olympic Village is made up of 11 blocks, which will accommodate around 17,000 athletes and officials during the Games and are set to be converted for community use after 2012.