Shortlisted bidders were permitted to propose use of more land than had previously been advertised

2.4  English Partnerships9 were unwilling to attract property developers who were not genuinely committed to providing a sustainable use for the Dome. Initially they explicitly offered only 68 acres, under the Dome and immediately adjacent land. Subsequently during negotiations with the three short-listed bidders in 2001 English Partnerships permitted bids that involved some 170 acres of their land, without having advertised more widely that the scope of the deal could be greater.

9

Market Testing

 

English Partnerships and their advisers Jones Lang LaSalle contacted some 150 organisations and individuals to encourage interest in the opportunity.

Companies approached during market testing

Source: English Partnerships

NOTES

1 Advisers specifically approached target groups of companies they considered might have the capacity and experience to put forward feasible proposals for a sustainable use for the Dome. The target groups included those with known leisure, sports and entertainment-related interests, and those whose prime interest was in property development.

2 English Partnerships and their advisers also followed up unsolicited expressions of interest in the Dome from a diverse range of organisations and individuals not specifically targeted and these are categorised as 'other' in the figure.




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9  English Partnerships is the vendor of the Dome and manager of the sale process. In this it was assisted by the Dome Sale Unit. This ensured more direct communication between Ministers and the professional advisers and closer cohesion between English Partnerships' and the Department's requirements.

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