Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Eighth Report


  VI. THE FUTURE OF THE DOME

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  Evidence, p 211. Back

319  Evidence, p 212. Back

320  Evidence, pp 211-212. Back

321  Evidence, p 212. Back

322  Ibid; HC (1998-99) 21-II, p 54. Back

323  Q 327. Back

324  Evidence, p 77. Back

325  Evidence , p 84. Back

326  HC Deb, 21 June 2000, col 232W. Back

327  Q 327. Back

328  Q 269. Back


 
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