British Deputy Prime Minister and London Mayor reveal Olympic bid is changing face of London

The UK Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, and Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, will today tell an international property conference that London is delivering on key infrastructure projects to support London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. 

Mr Prescott and Mr Livingstone will share a joint platform to launch the London Stand at MIPIM, in the South of France. Delegates will be told that close to £100 billion (146 billion Euros) worth of planned investment is set to change the face of London over the next two decades. 

Many infrastructure and development projects are already being delivered and are a key part of London 2012’s plans. 

And a new Olympic Park in the Lower Lea Valley, East London, which already has planning permission, will be a significant driver of community and environmental improvements in a national priority area for regeneration. 

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will say: ‘London’s Olympic Bid will accelerate the delivery of new homes and jobs already planned for the Lower Lea Valley in East London, and will provide local communities with a legacy of first class sporting, transport and community facilities.  This is what creating sustainable communities is all about - providing the full range of jobs, community facilities and services to support the population and leave a valuable inheritance for future generations.’ 

Ken Livingstone will say: ‘We know that London is already delivering on major projects across the Capital. Bidding for the 2012 Games has already helped us to secure investment for London, giving us a lasting legacy from the bidding process.’ 

Sebastian Coe added: ‘Delivery is crucial to the International Olympic Committee. Many people don't realise that we already have 60 per cent of our venues for 2012 in place and that London’s infrastructure will be transformed prior to the Games. This is a great example of delivery and puts real momentum behind our legacy plans.’ 

The development projects include: 

•        Completion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link by 2007. This will deliver an Olympic Javelin Service from Kings Cross to Stratford, home of the Olympic Park. The service will deliver a train every fifteen seconds into the heart of the Games in just seven minutes, with a total capacity of 240,000 people an hour.

•        Terminal Five – the construction of a new terminal at Heathrow Airport, a key international gateway for the Games. When fully complete in 2011, T5 will have the capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually.

•        East London Line extension – a vital north-south London transport link due for completion in 2010. This will free up capacity on rail and underground links serving the Olympic Park and move 10,000 spectators a day around the city.

•        The construction of the new 90,000-seater Wembley Stadium, which will be completed in early 2006. This will be the home of the 2012 football finals.

•        Stratford City, a major development of homes and office space delivering 4,000 new homes and an estimated 34,000 jobs. This will provide part of the athletes village, which will be transformed after the Games into housing for local needs. 

New Olympic Games Venues:

•        Aquatics Centre – Site preparation work has already started on an Olympic Aquatics Centre and a design, by internationally renowned architect Zaha Hadid, has been chosen. An aquatics centre is due for completion in 2008.

•        VeloPark – A £22m funding package has been secured for the VeloPark, which will be a major cycling venue for the Games and beyond. The VeloPark is due for completion in 2008. 

Notes to Editors: 

1.       More information about London’s plans can be accessed at the London Development Agency’s Stand at MIPIM (London Stand RSV.01)

2.       Free London 2012 images can be accessed from www.thenewsmarket.com/london2012

3.       Media enquiries only: Liz Crawshaw 07812 103624 or Matthew Neylan 07887 832 928 

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