The Council's Strategic Development Committee have officially granted planning permission for temporary structures to be built at ExCeL in Custom House and Pontoon Dock in nearby North Woolwich during the Games.

Sir Robin Wales, the Mayor of Newham, said: "The 2012 Games are a catalyst for our plans to redevelop the Borough.

"They will be a showcase for Newham to an international audience and signal the start of a massive amount of development and prosperity.

"This planning approval is an important step to making this happen."

The temporary structures on the ExCeL site include security fencing, spectator access compounds, security compounds and broadcast compounds.

The Pontoon Dock site will be used as a broadcast compound.

ExCeL, opened in 2000 and now owned by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, is due to host boxing, fencing, judo, taekwondo, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling during the Olympics.

During the Paralympics it will stage boccia, judo, powerlifting, table tennis, sitting volleyball and wheelchair fencing.

A total of 80 Olympic and 74 Paralympic medals will be awarded in events held at ExCeL during London 2012.

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: "We are delighted to have been granted planning permission to proceed with our plans. ExCeL is an exciting and important Games-time venue.

"It will host the biggest cluster of Olympic and Paralympic sports outside the Olympic Park.

"I am thrilled that this world-class exhibition and conference centre will be such a key venue in 2012.

"Being so close to the Olympic Park in Stratford, staging events at ExCeL enables us to fulfil our commitment to make the Games compact for athletes and spectators alike.

"This also demonstrates how important the Borough of Newham is to all our plans to put on a memorable Games."

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