Legacy United? The legacy of London's Olympic venues

Assembly finds plans to transform 2012 stadium into a 25,000 seat athletics arena 'flawed’ and may delay securing lasting legacy.

This Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism (EDCST) Committee report concludes it is likely that only a major football or rugby club could provide the crowds and regular use to allow the 2012 stadium to pay for itself and provide significant local employment.

The report acknowledges that the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is actively looking at a wider range of tenants, but found the Olympic Board’s original insistence on an athletics-led future for the stadium was a ‘missed opportunity’ to deliver the most sustainable and beneficial legacy for the local community.

The report also found that the 90,000 square metre media centre will require extra funding to convert the buildings and upgrade transport links to attract would-be tenants after the Games.

In relation to both venues, the report recommends that:

• Community access should be guaranteed via arrangements with the venue operators
• Long term targets for operators to recruit local people, accompanied by training programmes to give people the skills to apply
• Operators should ensure that their procurement processes give opportunities for local businesses to win contracts and additional support for small firms.

A report commissioned from Oxford Brookes to inform the investigation is also available to view, along with written submissions received by the Committee.