Greenwich set for green light

The fate of the Imagination-designed Greenwich exhibition was due to be decided yesterday (Wednesday) at a meeting of the Millennium Commission and the operating company Millennium Central.

The exhibition was expected to get the green light after Millennium Central’s presentation of its business plan to the commission.

For the first time commissioners and members of the operating company were to be shown designs for one of the 12 time zones being housed under the dome.

The future of the exhibition also depends on the Labour Party agreeing to some form of underwriting of the costs, which are now reported to be 700m.

Shadow heritage secretary Jack Cunningham, who saw the business plan this week, “will not write a blank cheque till he is convinced it comes in on time and budget”, says a spokeswoman for Cunningham.

Once the exhibition gets the go-ahead, Imagination will start to grow its design team, although a spokeswoman for the group could give no recruitment details.

Imagination will also be able to complete the design work and “put more flesh on the regional programme”, says the spokeswoman.