The independent Planning Committee for the Olympic Park approved the plans for the Aquatics Centre after public consultation was incorporated into the design development of details such as accessibility and changing facilities in legacy.

 

The 17,500 capacity Aquatics Centre will form the ‘gateway’ to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and transform into a 2,500 – 3,500 community and elite swimming and diving facility in legacy.

 

The Planning Committee approved the Games time and legacy plans for the Aquatics Centre which both included design developments that incorporated feedback from a programme of consultation with local people and other groups providing specialist advice on areas such as faith, community and club swimming, design and accessibility.

 

 The further design development included:

 

· Companion seating with all accessible seats to ensure disabled spectators can sit with family and friends.

 

· External lift and stairs to link entrances at river and upper levels.

 

· Separate male, female and team changing as well as village style facilities.

 

· Roof material changed to enhance landmark design.

 

· Further sustainability measures to reduce energy consumption and minimise water use, including using pool backwash to flush toilets.

 

The previously contaminated footprint of the Aquatics Centre has been cleared, over 500 metres of new riverbank are close to completion and intensive final preparations are underway on the rest of site to enable the contractor Balfour Beatty to start construction this summer.

 

Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said: “This decision keep us on track to start the construction of an iconic venue for the London 2012 Games and the new community and elite swimming and diving facility that London desperately needs.

 

"We have appointed a world class construction contractor, the site is almost ready and this summer people will see a new landmark for London start to emerge from what was one of the most contaminated parts of the Olympic Park.”

 

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said:  “This is a significant milestone and is great news. 

 

"I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work in preparing the planning application. 

 

"The Aquatics Centre will be a major venue on the Olympic Park, which will provide us with world class swimming and diving facilities for both elite athletes and community usage after the Games.

 

"This is  the year that construction starts in earnest on the Olympic Park and it is a fantastic sight to see.

 

"In four years time London will have a world class Aquatics Centre, a state of the art VeloPark and a new athletics Stadium.

 

"These facilities will be at the heart of a wonderful summer of sport in 2012, and for elite and community use for many generations. I hope that this will inspire more people to take up sport and that it will lead to more British medal successes in the years to come.”

 

The Zaha Hadid designed Aquatics Centre is located in the south of the Olympic Park and will be the main ‘Gateway into the Games’, hosting swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo finals and the swimming discipline of the modern pentathlon.

 

The Aquatics Centre will have a capacity of 17,500 during the Games, reducing to a maximum of 2,500, with the ability to add 1,000 for major events in legacy, and provide two 50 metre swimming pools and a diving pool, facilities that London does not have at present.

 

Balfour Beatty has recently been appointed to build the Aquatics Centre and huge land-bridge that forms the roof of the training pool and the main pedestrian access to the Olympic Park, construction work will start by the Beijing Games and be complete in 2011.