Olympic Park taking shape

The Olympic Park in Stratford has been held up as a blueprint for future large scale construction projects.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has asked Sir John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) to share the secrets of the site’s successful building programme.

Sir John will write a report, aimed at businesses, for completion this spring.

It will focus on the companies that signed direct contracts with the ODA and will include details of jobs created, including contracts with the Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014.

Sir John said: “London 2012 has been a showcase for the best of British construction and engineering.

“This report will help UK companies to learn from what has been achieved and reap the benefits of future projects at home and abroad, whether or not they have been involved in the Olympic Games.”

However, the total budget for the Olympic Games more than trebled to £9.3bn between 2005 and 2011 - with the cost of security and the opening and closing ceremonies increasing well beyond initial estimates.

However, the government said more £6bn has been generated in the UK as a result of businesses signing contracts to work on the site.

Mr Hunt added: “We need to ensure that the companies who built the Olympic Park, and others, learn from the experience of London 2012, exploit the global spotlight, and go on to bigger and better things in the future.

“I hope that Sir John’s report will pave the way for British businesses after 2012 and help secure a long term economic legacy for the UK.”