Competition
110. On 1 December 1997, Mr Peter Mandelson, the
then shareholder of NMEC, announced that a competition would be
held to select a future for the Dome. The competition went through
a series of phases from the invitation to tender to a shortlist
of two. The criteria for the assessment of the bids were: financial
consideration, commercial and environmental sustainability, regeneration,
innovation, cultural significance and transport.[318]
The ten outline proposals received by the Government were evaluated
against those criteria and on 17 January 2000 six proposals proceeded
to the next stage of the competition. Those six bidders were invited
to submit detailed proposals by 31 March. The decision on the
final shortlist was informed by a national public consultation
exercise.[319]
111. On 16 May 2000, the two final short-listed bidders
were announced.[320]
They were Nomura's Dome Europe and Robert Bourne's Legacy plc.
The bidders were "evaluated against their potential to deliver
long-term, sustainable, regeneration—economically, physically
and socially".[321]
They were asked specifically to consider jobs, environmental improvements
and the reduction of car dependency on the Greenwich peninsula.[322]
Lord Falconer said that "the decision will be made on the
basis of what is in the best public interest and we have set out
in the rules relating to the competitions what the criteria are".[323]
112. The two proposals were markedly different in
their visions of the Dome's future use. The Dome Europe proposal
was for a "world-class urban entertainment resort that celebrates
the richness of European culture".[324]
Legacy plc propose "a large cluster of knowledge-based businesses
[in effect] the national incubator for technology businesses".[325]
Both bidders put forward well thought out and attractive proposals
that seemed to meet the competition criteria. Both proposals would
provide a revenue stream for the Government in the form of profit
sharing, although the details of those arrangements have remained
confidential.
113. The Dome Europe plan had some similarities to
the present operation of the Dome. There has been press speculation
that Dome Europe might take over the operation of the Dome before
the end of this year, thereby releasing NMEC and the Millennium
Commission from further financial risk. Legacy plc propose a distinctive
change of use for the Dome whereas Dome Europe planned to invigorate
the Dome as a visitor attraction. There is no legal impediment
to an early sale of the Millennium Dome,[326]
but Lord Falconer was categorical in his denial of discussions
between the Government and either bidder about taking the Dome
over early.[327]
Mr Guy Hands of Dome Europe, said that if he were approached to
take over the Dome before 1 January 2001, "we would look
... at anything which we were asked to look at which we felt was
rational and sensible".[328]
318 
