5 PLANNING FOR A LASTING LEGACY
25. The prospect of the legacy that hosting the Games
would bring was central to London's bid. The broad concept of
legacy encompasses the sports venues that will remain after 2012,
the regeneration of the local area, and the wider benefits that
the Games are expected to bring.[31]
26. Five new venues will remain on the Olympic Park
site following the Games, including the main Stadium, and providing
for legacy is central to the thinking on design and construction.
The design of the venues has an impact not just on the construction
costs but also on maintenance and operating costs in the longer
term, and the Olympic Board had asked for the Aquatics Centre
to be re-designed to improve its legacy use and reduce cost.[32]
27. Developing detailed legacy plans is the responsibility
of project groups for each venue, involving representatives from
the Olympic Delivery Authority, LOCOG and other stakeholders.
Key questions to be resolved include who will own the individual
venues after the Games, who will cover conversion and running
costs, and the extent to which the venues will be available for
sporting use by local communities. The Olympic Delivery Authority
was working with the public authorities in the local area and
the relevant sporting bodies on these matters, and was seeking
to bring in revenue streams to ensure the venues would be financially
sustainable.[33]
28. One of the objectives for the Games is to maximise
the economic, social, health and environmental benefits for the
UK, particularly through regeneration and sustainable development
in East London. This objective had been broken down into sub-objectives
and work was continuing to develop delivery plans with detailed
milestones and outputs, but these had not been put not in place
by the end of 2006 as intended. Work on wider benefits was also
being done by LOCOG's Nations and Regions Groups which were seeking
to ensure the impact of the Games was felt across the country.[34]
29. The regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley in East
London, one of the most disadvantaged parts of the UK, was expected
to take a huge step forward because of the Games. Major progress
would be made within the next five years, well in advance of what
would otherwise have been achieved. The legacy effect would be
measured in the long run in terms of the impact on indices of
education, health and worklessness. In addition, 16,000 homes
were expected to come from the Olympic Park site and the wider
Stratford development, half of which would be 'affordable housing'
for renting and shared equity purchase.[35]
31 C&AG's Report, para 84 Back
32
C&AG's Report, paras 85-86; Q 26 Back
33
C&AG's Report, paras 85-86; Q 107 Back
34
C&AG's Report, paras 90-92; Qq 197-199, 204 Back
35
C&AG's Report, para 88; Qq 45, 67, 209-213 Back
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