The selection of iCity for the legacy use of the Olympic media centre could spark legal action, say lawyers.
EGi revealed on Wednesday that the London Legacy Development Corporation was recommending iCity, a bid backed by Lord Rothschild’s Infinity data centre company, to take over the 1m sq ft property after the 2012 Games.
However, lawyers said that initial guidance to bidders was that the site should be used to maximise employment and was not suitable for a data centre.
iCity’s plans include a 300,000 sq ft data centre, a cloud computing centre, research labs and post-production, graphic design and digital education facilities.
UK Fashion Hub, the only other remaining bidder for the media centre, declined to comment on iCity’s potential selection or whether it would challenge the decision.
The recommendation is set to be debated at a board meeting this week.
Whether any occupier will be selected for the media centre is questionable, however, as the LLDC’s new chairman, Daniel Moylan, has called for a re-assessment of the cost of pulling down the £350m press and broadcast centres after the Games.
Rob Whitehead, deputy director of think tank Centre for London, said: “In the long run, demolition might be the best course, as employment uses for the site are hampered by its limited transport connectivity and distance from central London.”
He added: “It is unlikely that the data centre part of iCity’s bid will generate many local jobs.”
With the start of the Games just a fortnight away, the LLDC is stepping up its work on securing post-Olympic uses for sites. On Thursday bids were called for future occupiers of the Olympic stadium.
Four parties submitted bids.
West Ham United Football Club is favourite to become the long-term tenant, having previously been selected to buy the stadium in a decision that was eventually scrapped because of legal challenges.
Other bidders are understood to include a joint venture between the University of East London and Essex County Cricket Club, a bid from Bucks New University to open a University College of Football Business, and Intelligent Transport Solutions, which wants to host a London Formula One grand prix at the site.
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nick.whitten@estatesgazette.com
