London Mayor unveils plans to transform Olympic Park into high-tech ‘testing ground’

Plans to transform Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park into one of the world’s leading digital environments have been unveiled by the Mayor of London today.

Boris Johnson’s Smart London plan sets out how he intends to use digital expertise to tackle challenges posed by the capital’s rapid growth.

Under proposals the park would become a testing ground for new technology, transport systems and energy services.

Schools in Newham and the wider capital would also be encouraged to take up computer science while the mayor seeks to double the number of businesses taking on technology apprenticeships.

Mr Johnson said: “London is blessed with an extraordinary array of digital expertise.

“We have more tech firms than any other European city and this plan is about using that talent to ensure that we are able to spur new jobs, encourage growth and respond to the amazing increase in population that is happening here.

“I want to harness the extraordinary creativity and technical prowess of our IT wizards to ensure we miss no opportunity to use intelligent technology to maintain London’s claim as the world’s number one city.”

The Park, near Stratford, is already set to play host to a one million square foot digital quarter known as iCITY which is expected to bring thousands of jobs to the area.

Smart technology is already being used to provide zero carbon renewable energy on the 560-acre site, centre of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It was also recently announced that University College London would bring a new centre for culture and heritage, a design school, a biotech hub and an educational technology centre with space for entrepreneurs to the park.