Millennium Dome to become sports and music venue

A consortium which plans to turn the Millennium Dome into a 20,000-seater sports and music venue was today given the chance to make the so far ill-fated venture a success.

The British government announced that Meridian Delta Limited have been appointed ‘‘exclusive partners’’ with English Partnerships to regenerate the Greenwich peninsula, and take over ownership of the Millennium Dome on a 999-year lease.

Stephen Byers, the British Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, said in a House of Commons written reply: ‘‘Once legally concluded the deal will provide a 20,000 seat arena inside the Dome, surrounded by an urban entertainment complex.

‘‘The total investment in and around the Dome will be £200m.’’