CLM prepares London for Olympics and beyond…

When, in Singapore on 6 July 2005, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced that London would be getting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it immediately spawned a massive regeneration for London’s east end.

When, in Singapore on 6 July 2005, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced that London would be getting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it immediately spawned a massive regeneration for London’s east end. Rogge’s words also catalysed a series of major regeneration projects by myriad companies – from housing, to retail to the Olympic venues themselves – that will transform this post-industrial zone for decades to come. And one of the big players in this process is CLM. 

CLM only exists because of the Olympic Games coming to London. A consortium made up of Laing O’R ourke, Mace and CH2M HILL, CLM is the delivery partner for the construction elements of the Games and it’s Deputy Programme Director is Bob Card.

“It’s fantastic that the Olympics is coming to London”, said Card. “Fantastic for the city, fantastic for sport, and fantastic to be able to kick-start a major programme of urban regeneration towards a real, unmissable deadline. It’s a great opportunity.”

In fact, the benefits of the Games have percolated into a wide spectrum of companies – generating commercial opportunities for thousands from construction firms to manufacturing and organisations in catering, merchandising, retail, financial services and the creative industries.

“We see this very much as being not just about the 4 weeks of sporting events, impressive as they may be," said Card. “We see this project as having far-reaching effects on London’s economy, on the education of its children and on influencing things like health and employment issues in the process.”

CLM ‘s main task will be in overseeing the construction of an estimated £2 billion worth of sports venues relating to the Games, including the centrepiece 80,000-seater stadium and associated infrastructure projects.

CH2M HILL, part of the CLM consortium, is based in the Englewood suburb of Denver Colorado, USA, and will be working alongside its British partners: Laing O’Rourke, the UK’s biggest construction company; and Mace, the construction management company. A 60-strong team has begun work on delivery of the construction programme, which is predicted to grow to some 200 over the next two years.

The Games will be in good hands. Between them, said Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive David Higgins, the companies have worked on five previous Olympic and Paralympic Summer and Winter Games and two forthcoming ones.

CLM has already found London to be a great place for business. Not only is London’s economy expected to grow at a faster rate than New York, Paris or any other established global city, but it is also on course to become the fourth largest city economy in the world by 2020. The Olympics will mean contracts running into billions, and the city has become a highly connected one in transport terms, with direct flights to 530 destinations from London’s five international airports and new high speed rail services to Paris and Brussels.

“That connectedness is really useful for any business setting up here, and will also come into its own in terms of staffing and enabling visitors to gain easy access, come Olympic time”, said Card.

But at the same time sustainability and innovation is high on London’s agenda, with the implementation of the congestion charge and the London Mayor’s commitment to a range of initiatives to promote renewables and energy efficiency in the capital. Construction in London is also helped by the city being home to some of the world’s greatest architects. Leading London-based architects include: Richard Rogers Partnership, Foster and Partners, HOK International Limited, Future Systems and Terry Farrell and Partners.

Overall, CLM couldn’t be in a better place.

“We’re more than happy to be working in London in the run up to the Games and beyond”, said Card. “It’s a global event for a global city.”

If you would like to know more about CLM, please visit www.clmdelivery.co.uk