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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Earls Court's future 'uncertain' | Earls Court's future 'uncertain' |
| (4 days later) | |
| One of London's most famous music and exhibition venues faces an uncertain future after the 2012 Olympics, after a new owner bought the land it sits on. | One of London's most famous music and exhibition venues faces an uncertain future after the 2012 Olympics, after a new owner bought the land it sits on. |
| Developer Capital and Counties (Capco) has acquired the remaining stake of the site of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, home to the Brit Awards. | Developer Capital and Counties (Capco) has acquired the remaining stake of the site of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, home to the Brit Awards. |
| "We envisage a large scale residential-led development at Earls Court," said a Capco spokesman. | "We envisage a large scale residential-led development at Earls Court," said a Capco spokesman. |
| "In terms of the venue, no final decisions have been taken," he added. | "In terms of the venue, no final decisions have been taken," he added. |
| But Capco said "up to 8,000 new homes" could be built on the land. | But Capco said "up to 8,000 new homes" could be built on the land. |
| 'Flagship venue' | 'Flagship venue' |
| "We are presently exploring the option of an enhancement of our world class exhibition centre at Olympia rather than replacing the current exhibition centre at Earls Court," he added. | "We are presently exploring the option of an enhancement of our world class exhibition centre at Olympia rather than replacing the current exhibition centre at Earls Court," he added. |
| Paul Colston, managing editor of Exhibition News website, said: "There's a £22bn events industry in the UK and this is a real blow. London will be losing its flagship exhibition venue in the UK." | Paul Colston, managing editor of Exhibition News website, said: "There's a £22bn events industry in the UK and this is a real blow. London will be losing its flagship exhibition venue in the UK." |
| "This will hurt the whole industry because its the flagship exhibition venue and not easily replaceable." | "This will hurt the whole industry because its the flagship exhibition venue and not easily replaceable." |
| Mr Colston said London may lose out to other cities in the exhibition and events market. | Mr Colston said London may lose out to other cities in the exhibition and events market. |
| "International business tourists spend three times as much as other tourists so London's hotels and restaurants will also lose out," he said. | "International business tourists spend three times as much as other tourists so London's hotels and restaurants will also lose out," he said. |
| "The big shows will have to look elsewhere and London could lose out. | "The big shows will have to look elsewhere and London could lose out. |
| "It will be good for London's rivals like Birmingham's NEC." | "It will be good for London's rivals like Birmingham's NEC." |
| New homes | New homes |
| The firm has launched a website which says the "area has the potential to provide thousands of new homes". | The firm has launched a website which says the "area has the potential to provide thousands of new homes". |
| We know that this site is very important to the local community Capco | We know that this site is very important to the local community Capco |
| The Your Earls Court website puts forward a case for development of the 70 acre site, saying: "The local area needs new and affordable homes, new jobs and new investment". | The Your Earls Court website puts forward a case for development of the 70 acre site, saying: "The local area needs new and affordable homes, new jobs and new investment". |
| The land is owned by Transport for London (TfL) and Hammersmith & Fulham council, and Capital and Counties, which is part of Liberty International. | |
| "We know that this site is very important to the local community and we pledge to engage and consult the local communities at every stage of this development," the website said. | "We know that this site is very important to the local community and we pledge to engage and consult the local communities at every stage of this development," the website said. |
| Earls Court has played host to big exhibitions like the Ideal Homes Exhibition and to concerts by some of the world's biggest artists, from Madonna to Roger Waters. | Earls Court has played host to big exhibitions like the Ideal Homes Exhibition and to concerts by some of the world's biggest artists, from Madonna to Roger Waters. |
| Earls Court will host the Olympic volleyball tournament in 2012. | Earls Court will host the Olympic volleyball tournament in 2012. |