A lot of progress has been made in recent weeks on what is one of the most complex and challenging parts of the Olympic Park clean up, the ODA said.

 

Eleven industrial buildings have been demolished on the site, around 80,000 tonnes of soil has been dug out, much of it contaminated and requiring cleaning, and over 40,000 tonnes of clean soil brought on to prepare the site for construction.

 

Over 500 metres of new river walls have been installed which will widen the river by eight metres when the existing river walls are removed later this year.

 

Archaeological investigations have been completed on site, including recording evidence of a prehistoric settlement.

 

By the summer construction will start on the Zaha Hadid Aquatics Centre which during the Games will mark the entrance to the Olympic Park from Stratford.

 

The Aquatics Centre will host swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo finals and elements of Modern Pentathlon.

 

After the Games temporary seating will be removed, leaving in legacy a 2,500 capacity swimming venue that can be boosted to 3,500 seats, and local community and school swimming facilities.

 

The statutory consultation period on the planning application for the venue ended this week.

 

There has been a very positive response from over 150 local people that have attended the drop-ins consultations in the Newham, the Host Olympic Borough in which the Aquatics Centre will be based.

 

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: “The Aquatics Centre will be the ‘Gateway to the Games’ in 2012 and in legacy will be a new landmark building for London, a new home for elite swimming and a new sustainable resource for the local community.

 

“The challenging site is starting to take shape ready for construction to start by Beijing 2008. Industrial buildings have been demolished and recycled, contaminated soil is being cleaned up and the waterways are being widened.

 

"The transformation of the site for Games and legacy is on track.”