SMEs hoping to secure a slice of outstanding Olympic work could be disappointed by proposals to tack small packages onto existing 2012 contracts

It is understood that the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is talking to its contractors about bundling up small jobs and adding them to existing deals.

Under the proposals, Balfour Beatty, the main contractor on the £242m aquatics centre, could secure up to £20m of external works nearby. It is thought that up to £20m of work around the velodrome could be given to contractor ISG, including an underpass and bridge. Similar plans are understood to be under discussion around other venues.

A source close to negotiations said: “The ODA is looking at bundling up more work for contractors on the basis that it has staff on site and can build up the work without preliminaries.”

It runs counter to the aim of establishing a legacy for local communities

Julia Evans, NFB

An ODA spokesman said: “Our standard contracts allow us to add on small bits of work. But it is complete speculation to put a figure on this.” He added that most of the work was likely to be subcontracted.

The National Federation of Builders said the news was “very disappointing”. Julia Evans, its chief executive, said: “It seems to run counter to the aim of establishing a legacy for local communities.”

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