Government planning and architectural advisers believe thousand of houses should be built on the Greenwich peninsula which accommodates the vacant Millennium Dome.
The proposal would create a new town in London that would include rented, low-cost private and more upmarket homes, with leisure, welfare and shopping facilities.
Tory Peer Lord Renton said the Millennium Dome should be shipped to Manhattan for free and placed at the World Trade Centre site while it is being redeveloped. Lord Falconer, minister in charge of the south-east London venue, slapped down the suggestion. Lady Gibson (Lab) said Greenwich residents would be angry at the attempt to knock down the Dome but Lord Astor (Con) said the site was worth £300m more if the Dome was demolished.
The Daily Telegraph 15/11/01 page 18, The Guardian 15/11/01 page 15, page 23 (Leader)
