Work on the new Handball Arena for the 2012 London Olympics is set to get underway this summer after the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) appointed Buckingham Group Contracting to build the venue.

The Milton Keynes-based company will work with HOK Sport on the construction of the 7,000-seat facility, which has been designed by Make Architects with PTW and Arup and is set to become a 6,000-seat multi-sports venue after the Games. The ODA's planning committee approved plans for the arena in February, which will host the handball preliminaries and quarter finals, as well as the modern pentathlon discipline of fencing and the Paralympic goalball events.

ODA chief executive, David Higgins, said: "This appointment takes us a step closer towards a simple, sustainable and flexible Handball Arena that works for Games and legacy. "Construction is on track to start this summer on the Arena which will provide a great experience for competitors and spectators during the Games and offer a new facility for local people to enjoy a range of sports in legacy."