Football
Kevin Palmer 9y

West Ham won't have to foot bill for Olympic Stadium extras in London

The additional 50 million pounds required to complete renovation of London's 2012 Olympic Stadium is not due to demands by future tenants West Ham United FC, sources have told ESPN FC.

Reports emerged on Monday confirming builders Balfour Beatty have asked for the extra money to fund the closing stages of the project. The stadium is due to become a new home for West Ham at the start of the 2016-17 season.

The cash flow issue with builders is not related to making the stadium fit for Premier League football and West Ham. Spiralling costs are due to complications over a complex roof structure at the stadium that is proving to be more costly than first anticipated.

As such, West Ham will not be asked to foot the bill for the extra investment. The site is also due to host games at next summer's Rugby Union World Cup, as well as becoming a home for major athletics meetings in the UK.

A spokesman for E20 Stadium, a joint venture between the London Legacy Development Corporation [LLDC] and London Newham Council set up to manage the venue, offered some clarity on the developments.

"The project still has close to two years to run and we are in no doubt Balfour Beatty can deliver the programme as planned," they said in a statement. "This is a complex project and there are always ongoing discussions about specific elements within it."

Sources at the LLDC, who are in charge of transforming the Olympic Stadium into a venue fit for multi-sports action, have stated public money will not cover the entire cost of the additional 50 million pounds as Balfour Beatty will also absorb some of the overspend.

Reports suggest the final bill to remodel the Olympic Stadium will top 600 million pounds by the time West Ham start playing football at the venue in two years. London Mayor Boris Johnson is taking a hands on role in the project as the chairman of the LLDC.

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