Electrical network contract awarded

Work is set to surge ahead on the electrical networks for the Olympic Park and Stratford City development in east London

EDF Energy, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lea Valley Utilities (LVU), has been awarded the contract to design, construct, own and operate the electrical distribution network supplying power to the Olympic Park and Stratford City a development adjacent to the Park including retail, residential, leisure and office space. The network will be made up of more than 100km of cabling and 100 local substations across the Park.

The networks will be connected to a primary substation located in the west of the Olympic Park. Clearance work on the site of the primary substation has now been completed, allowing construction work to start later this year.

Crushed materials from the site will be used in the construction of the substation contributing to London 2012’s target of recycling or reusing 90 per cent of construction materials.

ODA Director of Infrastructure and Utilities, Simon Wright, said: ’The utility networks and infrastructure are not just for a summer of sport in 2012 but will power the long-term regeneration of the area for many years to come and show that we are planning Games and legacy together from the very beginning.’

The substation building designs include a ‘brown roof’ allowing species to colonise naturally. The brown roof will help enhance the ecological value and biodiversity of the Olympic Park site by attracting local wildlife including black redstarts, a rare bird that thrives on brownfield land.

Work to construct and install the electrical networks will begin in the summer.