The targets, set out in the ODA’s Sustainable Development Strategy in 2007, cover a variety of areas ranging from using low-carbon materials and recycling construction waste to incorporating rain-water harvesting and bird and bat boxes into the design and build of venues.

Among other achievements, the ODA is currently delivering 60% of materials by weight by rail or water transport, beating a target of 50% and dramatically reducing vehicle movements and the resulting carbon emissions. The ODA has also reported that 90% of construction waste is being diverted from landfill and is being reused or recycled instead, and the first of 4,000 semi-mature trees have been planted on site.
The project’s sustainability standards have also been recognised by the industry with the ‘Legacy for Sustainability’ award at the Constructing Excellence National Awards.

ODA chairman John Armitt said: “Sustainability is at the heart of our plans and what we have tasked our contractors to achieve is unprecedented for a project of this size and scale.

“Our targets include reusing and recycling 90% of waste, delivering over half the materials needed by sustainable transport, using natural remediation methods to clean soil, barges to take away segregated waste through newly-dredged waterways and only legal and sustainable timber sourced through a supplier panel.

“We wanted to lift the bar for the industry and set new sustainability standards and our contractors and suppliers have more than risen to the challenge. We hope that this project becomes a beacon for the planning, design and delivery of future large-scale projects.”