ODA boss Higgins targets Spring 2008 for work commencement and expresses confidence in £496m budget

Work on the new Olympic stadium is to start next April or May, the Olympic Delivery Authority confirmed this morning. Speaking on the BBC Today show chief executive David Higgins said the client was targeting a commencement of works in April or May. "The quicker we start the more time we have to ensure completion in an effective time to allow the test events to happen in 2011," he said.

Higgins said the design of the stadium, which will officially be revealed tomorrow, was in part led by the television audience. "It will look fantastic from the air," he said. He added that the design was also focused on the experience of the athletes and the spectator.

Higgins said he hoped the stadium would set a trend for future such facilities. "We are going from an 80,000 seater to a 25,000 seat stadium. It will be multiple use," he said. of the £496m budget Higgins commented: "That's our budget and we are working to it."

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