The area of land chosen for the Olympic Park had to be cleaned and cleared before construction could start.
The large amounts of rubbish, chemicals, rubble and oil waste that had been littered across the site in the past made this very difficult. For 150 years up until World War Two the land had been a rubbish dump, and since the war the possibility of unexploded bombs presented an additional risk. Around 220 existing buildings and industrial facilities also needed to be demolished.
Disued tyres stockpile, prior to clearance to make way for the Park*
However, before any demolition or soil treatment could begin, engineers had to consider the conservation of plant and wildlife species and the preservation of any historically significant discoveries.
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*Images provided courtesy of the Olympic Delivery Authority