Oda Green Lights Early Planning Approvals

Under pressure over spiralling budgets, London 2012 at last received some good
news after the Olympic Delivery Authority confirmed its first planning approvals
ahead of schedule.

Work on cleaning up the Olympic Park site will now start a month ahead of
schedule after the ODA Planning Committee gave the go ahead on plans.

The demolition and remediation will start in December after two planning
applications from the London Development Agency and ODA were approved.

The Planning Committee also approved Transport for London’s plans to improve
capacity at Stratford Station in the run up to 2012, including a new westbound
platform for Central Line trains.

These were the first planning approvals since the ODA Planning Committee took
up its powers in September.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: ‘This means we have achieved planning
approval for this land remediation a month ahead of programme. We are on track
and continuing to hit our milestones. I am confident we will deliver an
exceptional Games and a lasting regeneration legacy for East London.’