Plans were approved for the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and Main Press Centre (MPC) by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Planning Committee.

During the application process local people and other stakeholders were consulted and, as planned, the detailed designs of the buildings have been developed.

Approval had already been granted for work on the venue's foundations. Piling is now 90% complete, and the buildings will start coming out of the ground shortly.

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ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: "The IBC/MPC will provide a quality working environment for media during the Games while delivering flexible employment space for a range of potential legacy tenants and users."

During the London 2012 Games the IBC/MPC will support 20,000 broadcasters, photographers and journalists communicating the Games to an audience of approximately four billion people worldwide. After the Games the facilities will create new business space with the potential to generate thousands of new jobs.

The enhanced designs include new cladding and detailing for the 29,000 sq m MPC office block. In addition there is a new chequerboard cladding design for the 60,000 sq m IBC studios and smaller sections of screening over the gantry that runs alongside the building to break up the scale of the building visually.

(CD/JM)