October 26 - Construction has been completed of the first building on the Olympic Park site for the 2012 London Games.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) revealed today that an electricity substation in the west of the Park has been fully built by EDF Energy and will start supplying energy to the site next month.

The substation, located in Kings Yard, has been designed, constructed, owned and operated by EDF Energy.

Construction work began in December 2007.

The building will start supplying electricity to the site next month.

Simon Wright, the ODA's director of utilities and infrastructure, said: "Completing the first building on the Olympic Park site on schedule is a major milestone and shows that we are making good progress not only on the main sporting venues for 2012 but also on the backbone of essential new utilities infrastructure.

"The electricity substation will serve the lifetime of the 2012 project - powering construction work on the Olympic Park site, serving venues during the Games in 2012, and delivering essential new services for generations to come."

Laurent Ferrari, the managing director, EDF Energy Networks, said: "As the first London 2012 sustainability partner and energy utilities partner, we are delighted to have completed work on the network hub that will help power the regeneration of the Olympic Park.

"This marks a key phase in our development of the site, which has already seen the skyline of East London transformed with the removal of more than 50 electricity pylons.

"Through the sustainability features that are embedded in this building, we are also helping to ensure that London 2012 is both a truly sustainable Games and a force for change that will deliver a legacy for the local community long after the Games have ended."


Related stories
February 2009: Olympic Energy Centre begins to take shape
August 2008: Work surges ahead on Olympic Park utilities infrastructure
February 2008: New Olympic electrical sub-station plan revealed
January 2008: Major Olympic contract for Games sponsor

By Duncan Mackay

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