Millennium Dome may be resurrected on new site

The Millennium Dome could be taken down and moved to another site under options privately discussed by ministers for the troubled Greenwich landmark.

The Millennium Dome could be taken down and moved to another site under options privately discussed by ministers for the troubled Greenwich landmark.

Ministers have been told that the site would be worth an estimated £300m if the Dome was removed. That has led to speculation that the Dome could be demolished if a proposed take-over bid by Legacy falls through this week.

Demolishing the Dome would split the Cabinet between ministers who think it has damaged Labour's image and others who believe it is too famous - as a landmark and the site of history's biggest gem raid attempt - to knock down.

However, the Independent on Sunday has learnt that a third option - dismantling the Meccano-like structure and moving it to another site - is seen by some ministers as the best solution to the problem.

"People have been talking about demolishing the Dome, but it is a movable project. We could end up with two bidders: one for the site and one for the Dome," said a ministerial source. "They won't admit it publicly, but they are privately talking about it."

As a New Labour icon, the Dome might not seem attractive, but there could be queues of potential bidders interested in it as a tourist attraction if it could be taken down and re-assembled on another site. And there is an historical precedent, although it is an unhappy one. The Crystal Palace, which housed the Victorian Great Exhibition, was moved from Hyde Park to the site in south London where it burned down.

One minister directly involved in the discussions said: "Moving the Dome isn't on our official list of options, but it's a nice idea."

Tomorrow the Tories in the Commons will call for the sacking of Lord Falconer, the "minister for the Dome" after last week's highly critical National Audit Office report.

William Hague, who was a member of the Tory Cabinet committee which initiated the Dome plan, was challenged last night by Labour MP Phil Hope to come clean about his involvement.

John Prescott, the deputy Prime Minister, has demanded that a decision over the fate of the Dome is taken next Thursday by ministers.

Legacy, who want to turn it into a dotcom business park, said they hoped to sign a deal with the Government this week giving them preferred bidder status - which was what Nomura enjoyed over the summer until they pulled out.

The National Audit Office report made no difference to them.

"We're not buying the New Millennium Experience Company," a spokesman said.