ODA could wind up 18 months early

The Olympic Delivery Authority could wind up two years earlier than originally intended, under plans being discussed since chief executive David Higgins announced his departure last year.

The ODA has asked the Olympic Park Legacy Company, the body in charge of the post-games regeneration of the site, if it wants to take on £350m of transformation works originally supposed to be undertaken by the ODA.

The OPLC, which in the past has tussled with the ODA regarding the scope of work that the ODA is required to do after the games to make it ready for redevelopment, will consider the offer at its regular board meeting in February.

Under the plans, the ODA would wind up shortly after the games in 2012, when originally it was scheduled to continue until 2014 to undertake the transformation works.

The ODA is understood to be keen to pass on responsibility for the works to avoid having to keep construction skills and staff at the agency doing little for a year while building effectively stops in advance of the games itself. Its chief executive David Higgins announced he was leaving to take charge of Network Rail in September last year, and is due to start his new job next month.

The ODA is already close to completing some of the major venues, and would not start on the transformational works until the autumn of 2012. However, the OPLC may not relish taking on a complex construction task always conceived as an ODA job.

An ODA spokesperson said: “The ODA is on track to deliver the venues, infrastructure and parklands for the London 2012 Games, each with transformation plans. As we near completion we are in discussion with the legacy owner, the Olympic Park Legacy Company, about ensuring a swift and cost-effective transformation of the venues and parklands so that they can open to the public as quickly as possible after the Games. These discussions are ongoing and more details will be provided when they conclude.”