OLYMPIAN and world record breaking triple jumper Jonathan Edwards celebrated an ‘important milestone on the journey to London 2012’ with a topping out ceremony on Portland.

The 45-year-old British star, who claimed international glory as Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World champion, unveiled a commemorative stone at the £13million Officers Field development to declare the major structural work complete.

Over the next four months the developer ZeroC will complete the internal fit out of the houses and the site’s landscaping, prior to the handover to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) in January 2012 for temporary use as the Sailing Village for athletes and officials next summer.

The site will then be handed back to ZeroC in autumn 2012 but residents are being urged to snap up properties from this Saturday, in order to benefit from rent during the Games.

Mr Edwards, who is the athletes’ representative on the LOCOG board, said: “This is a very real and important milestone for us in the journey to London 2012.

“The original plan was to put the sailors on a cruise ship, which wasn’t too well received.

“Various schemes came and went and then this came up. It’s a beautiful synergy because it would have happened anyway but due to the Olympics and Paralympics it’s been accelerated and brought forward.”

He added: “The Games is the greatest show on earth.

“Here in Weymouth and Portland, you haven’t quite got an idea of what is going to hit you.

“You have top athletes in Ben Ainslie and the rest of the British sailing team and it’s an amazing privilege.

“I want to set a standard with this satellite village, as a platform for national celebration and pride.

“Pictures of this part of the world will go around the globe for the period of the Games.

“We’re aware of the short-term pain to host the Games but the long term legacy for Portland, Weymouth and this part of the world will be very great indeed.”

Kim Slowe, managing director ZeroC, said: “Developers very rarely get the opportunity to participate in such a high profile event and Officers Field has the added bonus that it is delivering much needed, high quality, sustainable housing.”

homes a legacy for island

THE Officers Field development includes 77 houses and a central square.

After the home Games finish in September 2012, 19 of the homes are being transferred to Magna Housing Association as affordable housing and 58 homes are being sold on the open market.

Sales of the open market housing start this Saturday, September 17, with a show home launch from 10am until 4pm.

Prices for one bedroom homes start at £135,000, two bedroom homes at £160,000, three bedroom homes at £175,000 and four bedroom homes at £275,000.

The developer, ZeroC, is offering purchasers that buy a house prior to the Games in 2012 a rent guarantee during the period the home is leased to LOCOG worth up to £10,000.

All the ‘super insulated’ sustainable homes are heated using wood pellets, rainwater will be collected to flush toilets, for garden use, and for washing machines.

An electric car will be provided for residents use.

Investment from ZeroC has gone into the Portland skate park and is ongoing into Osprey leisure centre and the park and gardens by Victoria Square.

To find out more visit officersfield.com or call 01305 250427.