Dome bids require design plans

The regeneration of the Millennium Dome after this year’s celebrations will soon offer further opportunities for design groups, as bids to take the Dome over are shortlisted.

The next round of the selection process will require the six active bidders to outline full proposals to English Partnerships, the government’s regeneration agency.

“All the projects will now be required to submit financial outlines of their proposals, which will require them to know what they are doing in design terms,” says a spokesman for the City of the Future bid, a proposed £1bn theme park with the largest covered water features in Europe.

“It is conceivable that some of the consortia will merge as projects get whittled down,” he adds. The City of the Future is designed in-house by Monex, the South African leisure and property developer, with architect Benoy.

Six projects are now in the running, from ten initial proposals. A winner will be picked in the next six months. The entries are:

City of the Future, a theme park centred around the Dome, by real estate group MEPC and Monex.

Dome Europe, a high technology leisure and retail destination proposed by the Nomura group of Japan.

Greenwich Media World, a leisure and business destination, proposed by Pell Frischmann, London Merchant Securities, Sir Robert McAlpine, WestLB Panmure and The Tussauds Group.

International Merchandise and Cultural Centre, a centre for exchanging goods, services and tourism promotions, by a consortium comprising Country Heights Holdings and Maccon Investment Holdings.

Legacy plc, a high technology industrial campus, proposed by entrepreneur Robert Bourne.

Sports Dome 2001, an advanced multiple sports facility, proposed by a consortium comprising John Taylor International, Chelsfield, Collard Grosvenor and Price Nicholson, backed by BSkyB.