(ATR) The British government and London Mayor Boris Johnson give the green light to West Ham United's plans to move to the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
In a statement, Department for Communities and Local Government minister Bob Neill said Thursday that he and Olympics minister Hugh Robertson had approved the recommendation of the Olympic Park Legacy Company last month to select the joint bid from West Ham United and Newham Council as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium.
"This completes the first stage of this process and means that the Olympic Park Legacy Company are now able to enter into negotiations with the consortium comprising West Ham United Football Club and the London Borough of Newham to agree a lease for the Olympic Stadium site on terms that are acceptable to Government and the Mayor of London and provide value for money to the public sector," he said.
"We are delighted with the progress that has been made and very pleased we have reached this very significant milestone in determining the long-term legacy for the Olympic Park following the Games."
Thursday's approval was widely expected and came a month after the Hammers beat off competition from Tottenham Hotspur to be selected as the preferred bidder to take over the 80,000-seat stadium.
West Ham United's plan with Newham Council to retain the running track and downsize the capacity to 60,000 seats putting football and athletics at its core after the Games comfortably won the backing of Olympic Park Legacy Company.
Heavyweight backers for the Hammers' plan included IOC president Jacques Rogge, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and International Association of Athletics Federations boss Lamine Diack, who said that London would be telling "a big lie" if it went back on its commitment to the IOC by tearing out the running track.
Spurs' joint plan to demolish most of the Olympic Stadium and rebuild a bespoke football venue was widely criticized, mainly because it went against London 2012's commitment to the IOC to leave an athletics legacy on the site post-Games.
West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady said on Thursday she was "pleased and proud" the government and mayor have backed the club's plans for the Olympic Stadium after the Games.
"I am grateful for their support and the clear recognition of the strengths of a financially strong,community-based bid that will do much for the regeneration of east London," she said.
Following the mayoral and Government ratification, West Ham plans toengage with supporters about the move, launch supporter tours of the Olympic Stadium and reveal more details behind its $155 million plans toconvert the venue that has cost around $875 million to build.
London mayor Boris Johnson said he was "confident that West Ham will provide a secure future for the stadium which also sees its iconic design for the London Games retained for future generations to admire.
"Just two years ago it faced the prospect of becoming a dust bowl staging occasional athletics events but now we can look forward to a fantastic multi-use venue at the heart of the community, able to host football and other sports as well as concerts and events specifically for local people and schools."
For more on Thursday's approval, visit World Football Insider.
Written by Mark Bisson.
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