London 2012 Olympic Park plans approved

LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) Final plans for London's 2012 Olympic Park have been recommended for approval, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced today.

A 10,000-page application was submitted in February, outlining plans for five permament sporting venues including the main stadium and aquatic centre and the International Broadcast Centre.

The 2.5 square km site in east London is set to become one of the biggest urban renewal projects in Europe.

In a statement, Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: ''This is one of the biggest and most complex planning applications ever prepared in this country, so the news that it has been recommended for approval is another key milestone for us on the road to 2012.'' Last month the ODA secured the last of the land needed for the Olympic project and work is well under way in clearing the site and demolishing 250 old buildings on the site. A tunnelling project to house electricity cables has also been completed.

The plans were recommended for approval by the ODA's Planning Decisions Team), an independent body responsible for processing all Olympic Park applications, and will now go in front of the Government Office for London and the Greater London Authority.

Reuters BJR DB2002