Olympic legacy will train brains
London's Olympic Park will become a centre of academic as well as athletic achievement under plans unveiled by Boris Johnson.
The Mayor of London and the Government have published a proposal to develop a world-class research, learning and innovation centre at the Stratford site.
Mr Johnson has pledged to make creating the facility, which will focus on digital media, green technologies, science and sport, one of his top priorities. He hopes it will help regenerate east London after the 2012 Games.
He said: "The 2012 legacy planning provides a crucial opportunity to stretch our thinking to the limits about how we exploit the investment we are making in east London.
"We have already laid out the building blocks in our Legacy Masterplan and now we must provide inspirational detail to bring it alive.
"If we get it right I can see the Olympic Park becoming a world-renowned hub for research and learning in sport, science and green technologies. I am absolutely committed to making this proposal a top political priority and I will listen to all ideas and do all I can to remove any barriers to its delivery."
Details of the proposal are still being worked out and there has been no indication of cost, although a feasibility study is due to be carried out. Consultations on the proposal have begun and will continue until the end of May.
One educational development definitely happening in the Park is the Chobham Academy, which will be built as part of the Olympic Village.
Planning permission for the school was granted at the end of last month and the 1,800 capacity facility is due to open in September 2013.
The Academy will specialise in performing arts and English with a focus on sports excellence, for children aged between three and 19. Its facilities will also be made available for the use of the community outside school hours.
Leave a comment