Olympic stadium to become school after 2012 Games

London’s Olympic stadium will be transformed into a sports-themed school after the 2012 Olympic Games.

The government is set to announce the plan next week, ending speculation that a premiership football club or rugby club Saracens would take over the venue after the Games. Olympic bosses ruled out this option because of the expense of removing the running track around the pitch.

The decision was being confirmed in a meeting of the Olympic Park Regeneration Steering Group, chaired by London mayor Boris Johnson, as Building went to press on Wednesday, but a source close to the situation said that the plan would definitely be approved.

The group also includes Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, communities secretary Hazel Blears and the leaders of the five Olympic boroughs’ councils.

A source close to the plan said: “The aim is to use the Olympics and the venue to inspire young people.”

After the Games, the 80,000-seat stadium will be transformed into a 25,000-seat athletics venue. Under the new plan, the area under the seating will be transformed into a “studio school” – a type of school that the government is piloting (see below).

No decision has been made about the school’s name, in part because it is not yet clear whether the International Olympic Committee will permit free use of the word “Olympic”.

The government is also planning for the stadium to take over as the National Skills Academy for sport and leisure, opening it up for sports events and clubs. Officials will also consider putting hotels and shops in the venue.

The decision not to hand the stadium over to a sports club means its construction will have to be subsidised by other Olympic schemes. The source said: “The stadium won’t break even or make a profit, but the park as a whole will, and will cross-subsidise the stadium.”

Following the meeting, Olympic bosses are also to announce that they are cutting the number of homes planned for the Olympic village from 17,000 to 10,000-12,000. Consultation on this is due to start next week.

Thirty-five per cent of the homes will be affordable – below the previous mayor’s target of 50% – and 40% will be family housing.

A spokesman for the London Development Agency, which is in charge of the Olympic legacy, confirmed an announcement on the future of the Olympic park was planned for next week but declined to comment on the details. However, he said that a mixed use for the stadium, including education facilities, was being considered.

Details were due to be released yesterday about the body that will control the Olympic legacy after 2012. The special-purpose vehicle will not own land or have planning powers, but will work with public sector landowners.