Where will the work be?

The 2012 Olympic Games present a massive opportunity for London as billions of pounds are spent on preparation – not only of the stadia and arenas but on basic infrastructures.

Estimates of 150,000 new jobs being created are now commonplace. Many of these jobs will be in the construction industry, of course. As a result of the necessity for security throughout, the Games will also engender a buoyant period for the security industry itself.

The knock-on process of providing everything from CCTV surveillance of the Games themselves through to alarms for the new residential properties should ensure that all sizes of security company will be able to compete for contracts.

Benefits throughout the country

It’s not only London that will benefit. Although the major build project will be the new 80,000-seater Olympic Stadium in East London, other venues where permanent and temporary work will be needed are spread throughout the country.

The plans were amended in June 2006 to include a central location for corporate sponsors which organisers say will help raise the all-important sponsorship revenues. A new location for the Media Centre would also speed up security checks for visiting members of the media by around 30 minutes.

Other changes proposed are a relocation of the volleyball from the Olympic Park to Earls Court, the provision of a dedicated holding area for athletes and relocation of the cycling events.

What could you be competing for?

Much security work will result from electrical and mechanical sub-contracts nearer to the Games. Announcements shouldn’t be expected for a few years (bear in mind that security contract wins for Beijing 2008 are still being announced).

With so much construction going on there will be many opportunities from now until 2012, and it is an advantage to know well in advance what types of project are available for your company to work on. Security businesses in both the electronic systems and guarding sectors hoping to compete for contracts should make sure they register with the websites on which notices will be announced in due course.

In January this year, Construction UK revised its special publication ‘Construction Projects of the 2012 London Olympics’. The publication offers an overview of the work that must take place before London proudly hosts the Games. The 22-page booklet is published by Construct UK Ltd, and priced at £10 per copy (ordering details appear at the end of this article).

The Guide states: “The project will involve the development of an 80,000-seater Olympic Stadium, an Aquatics Centre, four Multi-Sports Arenas, a Velopark, a Hockey Centre and numerous training, catering, broadcasting and security facilities. An Olympic Village comprising approximately 4,000 accommodation units will be built to house 17,000 athletes and officials from more than 200 nations. The long-term effects are wide-ranging and, directly or indirectly, involve property, redevelopment and construction activity, sustainability, regeneration and infrastructure.”

Responsibility for the work

Central to the proposals is the regeneration of the current ‘industrial wasteland’ that is Lea Valley in East London. The 500-acre Olympic Park will transform it into a model urban showpiece with new businesses attracted and a plethora of jobs created. Following on from the Games, reconfiguration of the site will provide housing, leisure, retail and industrial facilities – all needing security. Along with leading construction industry consultants, the LDA originally secured the planning permission from Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest Councils.

Inevitably, many of the existing businesses in the Lea Valley will have to be relocated to make way for the development.

The Olympic Park, Stratford

The main focus will be on the Olympic Park to be built at Stratford in the heart of London’s East End. The Park is to house The Olympic Stadium, The Acquatics Centre, The Hockey Centre, The Velopark with Velodrome and BMX Circuit, four multi-sports arenas, accommodation and a Broadcast and Media Centre.

Preparation work on the Olympic Park has already begun. Almost all major projects including main venues, ancillary buildings and infrastructure are now up for grabs, while competitions for designs and tenders for construction will be announced any time from now.

Four-stage development plan

Development will consist of four main stages:

(1) Pre-Olympic Construction Phase

Between now and the completion of the facilities. This is the time when most construction work will be planned and subsequently finished on site.

(2) Olympic Games Phase

The year leading up to the closing of The Paralympic Games in September 2012.

(3) Legacy Construction Phase

From September 2012 onwards, when the temporary facilities are removed and permanent works configured.

(4) Post-Olympic Legacy Phase

Covering works after (and not directly linked to) the Games. These works are scheduled for completion by 2020.

Taking the strain

An estimated £16 billion will be spent on upgrading London’s transport system, including an extension to the Docklands Light Railway and the refurbishment of London Underground stations.

Stratford International Station will serve the Olympic Park, allowing direct access from more than 300 UK stations.

A new city arises

The massive Stratford City Redevelopment project, planned regardless of the Olympic bid decision, will now include the Olympic Village. Centred around the transport infrastructure, it will take place over 20 years and include a town centre, office space and no less than 4,850 new homes.

Another 4-5,000 homes will be added from the Olympic Village redevelopment after the games.

Chance to compete

At various stages security companies will want to compete for tenders for the multitude of projects. Notices of tenders and design competitions will be announced in the initial phases and then published in the Official Journal of the European Union, on the relevant websites and in other media.

Major Olympic Games projects

During the main build phase, construction tenders will be invited from a shortlist of contractors and then evaluated. The objectives will be to ensure that high standards of quality are met, that the most economically advantageous tenders are secured and that fairness, transparency and sustainability are applied at all times.

‘Construction Projects of the 2012 London Olympics’ includes a list of major and minor projects. In addition to those listed in the Guide, there will be hundreds of thousands of square metres of new construction devoted to catering, retail and office space, front-of-house and back-of-house facilities, training and warm-up areas. Some buildings will be deconstructed after the Games, while others remain for local use.

Permanent venues to be built

• Aquatics Centre (Swimming, diving etc)
Location Olympic Park
Approximate cost £75 million

• Broadcast Centre/Main Media Centre
Location Olympic Park
Approximate cost £120 million

• Multi-Sports Stadium (Handball Arena)
Location Olympic Park
Approximate cost £30 million

• Olympic Stadium (Athletics)
Location Olympic Park
Approximate cost £275 million

• The Oympic Village
Location Olympic Village
Approximate cost £550 million

• Velopark (Cycling track, covered arena and BMX outdoor circuit)
Location Olympic Park North
Approximate cost (cycling track) £30 million
Approximate cost (BMX track) £12 million

Temporary venues to be built

• Greenwich Arena (Badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, etc)
Location Greenwich, South East London
Start date February 2010
Completion date April 2012
Approximate cost £14 million

• Multi-Sports Stadium
Location Olympic Park
Start date February 2010
Completion date April 2012
Approximate cost £75 million

• Royal Artillery Barracks (Shooting)
Location Woolwich, South East London
Start date February 2012
Completion date April 2012
Approximate cost £19 million

Temporary works at existing venues

The Guide also lists many temporary works required at existing venues throughout the country. It includes work at The Dome, ExCel, Greenwich Park, Hampden Park, Horse Guards Parade, Hyde Park, Lords Cricket Ground, the Millennium Stadium, Old Trafford, Regents Park, St James’s Park, Villa Park, Wealde Country Park, Wembley Stadium and the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

After the Games, the ODA will be responsible for a new programme of construction to redevelop and transform the ventures to their long-term uses. For instance, the Aquatics Centre will continue as a major event venue with a fitness centre. The International Broadcast and Main Media Centre will be used for business and workshops, and is scheduled to include a film studio, offices and residential areas.

Multi-purpose future

The Olympic Stadium will become a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue.

Many of the public areas in the Olympic Village will be deconstructed, but the polyclinic will probably become an educational establishment. The accommodation for the athletes and officials will be reconfigured to provide 4,000 housing units – increasing to 9,000 when the Stratford City redevelopment is factored into the equation.

As in Athens after the 2004 Olympics, the 2012 Games will leave a positive development legacy for London and a security infrastructure for the city that will, undoubtedly, be among the very best – if not the best – in the world.