Legacy of the Olympics: A computer generated image of how the neighbourhoods could look in the future

A group of business consultants has hit out at the number of the public bodies charged with delivering the Olympic legacy.

Those in charge of the post-Games transformation have been urged to do more to spell out the benefits to Newham and the other host boroughs.

The White Paper, ‘Mind the Gap: Looking after the Olympic legacy’ was launched by the Strategy Foresight Partnership and the Institute of Consulting on Thursday.

Dr Nasir Hussain, one of the authors, said important issues like job creation and improved sports facilities could slip under the radar unless there was one clear voice.

He said: “We are mainly talking about what could be left behind once the Olympic Games have finished and what might not be picked up.

“We identified around 40 different stakeholders that were involved in the Games, and they are not all talking to each other.

“There are different boroughs and different committees, businesses and members of the public.

“We want to get these stakeholders to talk to each other.”

Findings revealed in a recent study carried out by academics at the London School of Economics, showed the arrival of the Olympics has had little effect on Newham’s job’s figures.

Unemployment in the borough rose by 44 per cent between 2005 and 2010, compared to 21 per cent in London and 59 per cent nationally.

Newham Council has confirmed it will invest up to £40 million in a revamped Olympic Stadium to ensure that it will benefit the community.

Dr Hussain said: “All of the different bodies have their own legacy programmes.

“The most important aspect is the long-term social programme and the jobs that can come from that.”

Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales said the council’s Workplace job brokerage scheme had helped 13,000 people into work.

He added: “This includes securing more than 5,000 Olympics jobs for Newham residents and 2,500 jobs in the news Westfield Stratford City.

“On top of this there’ll be 3,000 new homes in the Athletes’ Village, with thousands more to come in the surrounding area.”

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