Cost-cutting continues at 2012 Aquatics centre

Two temporary grandstands will be bolted on to the 2012 Olympic Aquatics centre following the latest revisions to the showpiece stadium.

Latest plans for the centre reveal 15,000 temporary seats in slabs either side of the distinctive curved roof designed by architect Zaha Hadid.

It is the third time Hadid's plans have been changed in a bid to drive down costs on the project.

CJ was first to see the latest plan which is now radically different from Hadid's original concept which she said was "inspired by the fluid geometry of water in motion, creating spaces and a surrounding environment in sympathy with the river landscape".

One design expert said: "This is a million miles from the original idea which was truly innovative. This looks exactly what it is - a scaled down version of the original design with two great ugly lumps stuck on the side."

Hadid's initial plans were for an all-steel wave shaped structure with seating for 20,000 spectators around two 50m swimming pools and a diving pool. But her designs have already been scaled back twice following fears from the government and contractors that they would prove too costly to construct.

The signature steel roof was cut down from 35,000m2 to 14,000m2 last year and the whole project was value engineered again during the bidding process earlier this year.

A three-strong list of Eiffel, Hochtief and Balfour Beatty were initially interested but the European firms dropped out, leaving Balfour as the only bidder.

Construction is expected to start next summer as costs have already risen from the initial £75m in the London 2012 bid document to £200m now, despite the design being dramatically simplified.

One Olympic source said: "It looks like we are getting less but paying more, but that is misleading because the original budget estimates were way off beam and the new price includes infrastructure around the centre."

Another added: "This is not to do with costs savings it is about the legacy issues after the Games. The changes to the design are around the temporary seating and that has been done because the local authority wanted a leisure water element in legacy mode, so the temporary seating had to be remodelled."

An ODA spokesperson said: "The Aquatics centre will be a great 'gateway to the Games' and landmark for London in legacy.

"We have been working with the designers to realise the legacy and sustainability potential of the venue, while retaining all of the permanent fundamental design elements.

"In the same way as the stadium is designed to be different, the Aquatics Centre utilises innovative temporary elements to boost Games time capacity and maximise the opportunity for reuse after the Games."

Olympic Aquatics Centre: The new redesign