Planning blow for Olympic stadium construction

Olympics organisers have suffered a blow in its attempts to build an Olympic Stadium in the capital after planners learnt that they are forbidden by law to build a sports facility on a plot of land near the proposed venue in Stratford.

The 30 hectare site, complete with an Olympic village, new 80,000-seater stadium and transport facility, was due to be one of the main focuses of the 2012 Games.

Sports minister Richard Caborn has pledged to step in immediately to amend the Olympic Bill in order to override the ancient law.  The amendment will be inserted before the Bill gets to the House of Lords, where it should be passed this year.

"The covenant stops you from building sports facilities, which I said is not very helpful," said Caborn.

Caborn also said he expects to strike a deal in the next week over a contested strip of land, believed to be some 180 acres in size, which is also wanted as an Olympics site.

However, London & Continental Railways has told the London Development Agency that it owns the Stratford City site as part of a development consortium, which intends building 4,850 homes, 120 shops, as well as offices.

The site has been earmarked for the Olympic as the land is seen as essential for access roads and car parking for the Olympics.