Construction of the £200 million London 2012 Aquatics Centre is on track to start this summer after it was granted planning permission.
The independent Planning Committee for the Olympic Park approved the plans for the Aquatics Centre after public consultation was incorporated into the design development of details such as accessibility and changing facilities in legacy.
The 17,500 capacity Aquatics Centre will form the 'gateway' to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and transform into a 2,500 - 3,500 community and elite swimming and diving facility in legacy.
The Planning Committee approved the Games time and legacy plans for the Aquatics Centre which both included design developments that incorporated feedback from a programme of consultation with local people and other groups providing specialist advice on areas such as faith, community and club swimming, design and accessibility.
British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes said: “I am delighted we are nearing the end of the long and detailed planning phase for the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics.
“The planning has been comprehensive and we will have a stunning facility to come out of this phase. Whilst there have been challenges, what has emerged is a pool that will deliver not only for the Olympics but also for the London community for many years to come.”
Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said: "This decision keep us on track to start the construction of an iconic venue for the London 2012 Games and the new community and elite swimming and diving facility that London desperately needs.
"We have appointed a world class construction contractor, the site is almost ready and this summer people will see a new landmark for London start to emerge from what was one of the most contaminated parts of the Olympic Park."
The Zaha Hadid designed Aquatics Centre is located in the south of the Olympic Park and will be the main 'Gateway into the Games', hosting swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo finals and the swimming discipline of the modern pentathlon.
The Aquatics Centre will have a capacity of 17,500 during the Games, reducing to a maximum of 2,500, with the ability to add 1,000 for major events in legacy, and provide two 50 metre swimming pools and a diving pool, facilities that London does not have at present.
Balfour Beatty has recently been appointed to build the Aquatics Centre and huge land-bridge that forms the roof of the training pool and the main pedestrian access to the Olympic Park, construction work will start by the Beijing Games and be complete in 2011.
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