The London Development Agency (LDA) and London & Continental Railways Limited (LCR) confirmed Tuesday that all parties have reached a successful outcome to their negotiations on land issues regarding Stratford City and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Under the agreement all the land and infrastructure required for the Games on Stratford City land will be delivered and the first phase of the Stratford City development known as Zone 1 can proceed. It also includes provision to guarantee that LCR and Stratford City Development Limited interests are protected and safeguards the requirements of government, LDA, and the Olympic Delivery Authority for delivering the Olympics and the wider regeneration of Lower Lea Valley.
London’s Mayor Ken Livingstone said it was “excellent news which gives us the certainty we need to stick to the timetable and deliver a landmark Games in 2012”.
The Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), which will enable the LDA to secure the land needed to regenerate the Lower Lea Valley and to enable the development of the Olympic Park, will be issued imminently. The agreement, specifically relating to Zone 1, includes provisions to guarantee that infrastructure needed for the Olympics within the Zone will be delivered.
LDA is continuing negotiations with all other landowners in the Olympic Park area.
Meanwhile London 2012 CEO Keith Mills, speaking at a stopover in Singapore on his way to Beijing, said London is on track for the 2012 Games with two committees formed to spearhead developments.
He said, “we have set up the two organizations that will run the Games – the organizing committee and the development agency that will build all the infrastructures. They have started placing some of the big contracts. The Olympic Bill is going through the House of Parliament and we are in the process of recruiting our senior management team”.
Since the London bombing security has also become a priority. “We have some of the security services working with our architects in the design of the venues. This is to make sure that we have the safest venues in the world”.
Mills is heading to Beijing, host of the 2008 Games, and said London needs to learn from Beijing’s success and it’s mistakes. He said “every city that hosts the Games has the obligation to pass on their knowledge to the new city”.
