London 2012: Olympic village images unveiled

The latest legacy designs for the London 2012 Olympic Village have been released by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Lend Lease today.

Work began in June this year on the foundations for the first blocks of the Olympic Village and over 300 construction workers are now on site completing the piling works.

According to the ODA, "a selection of leading architects are now in place for all residential plots in the Olympic Village."

The latest images show the residential schemes as well as the communal areas - courtyards, pedestrian walkways and open spaces and planning permission has been secured for the first three residential schemes.

Lend Lease has also completed work to lift into place the first new bridge on the Olympic Village site, marking the first stage in helping to create an "open and accessible area in Games-time and legacy", said the ODA.

The 44 m-long structure is the first of three new bridges to be built in total. The bridges will each span the High Meads Loop railway line to connect the new Olympic Village development with the existing housing and communities adjacent to Village site. They will also carry vital services and utilities to the Olympic Village development.

The Olympic Village will accommodate athletes during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. After 2012, it will leave the legacy of new homes, many of which will be affordable, together with new parks, public squares and open space; an Academy education campus for all ages; multi-use community facilities; and new infrastructure to connect the new communities with the Olympic Park, one of the largest new urban parks in Europe for 150 years.