Olympic demolition

The UK's Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is almost halfway through its demolition programme to clear London's Olympic park – a 2.5 km² area that will require the demolition of over 220 buildings and the remediation of 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated soil.

777 Demolition's 53 m, 120 tonne Hitachi EX1200 high reach demolition rig, on hire with its operator to demolition contractor Clifford Devlin, is now working on the 12 storey former University of East London building, derelict for several years, to clear the area that will link the Olympic Village and VeloPark during the Games in 2012.

To date, 106 buildings have been demolished and the ODA intends to have the area cleared and cleaned by the time the 2008 Games in Beijing start.

As much of the demolition waste will be recycled and reused on site. A building adjacent to the UEL building has been almost completely cleared and the resulting demolition waste is being stored on site for re-use on site or recycling off-site.

In a statement, ODA chief executive David Higgins said: “The demolition of these long disused buildings which tower over the Olympic Park is a clear symbol of how the progress we are making on the Olympic Park will help transform a neglected part of London for future generations. Clearing this area will free it up to become a gateway between world class sporting facilities and vital Games-time and legacy

He added “Demolition and clearance work across the site is surging ahead as we prepare for the start of the 'Big Build' after Beijing next year”.