Plans unveiled for Wembley

Plans for a new national stadium on the site of the existing Wembley stadium have been unveiled by its owners, the property and leisure company, Wembley plc.

The scheme, designed by consulting engineer Sir William Halcrow & Partners and architect Atherden Fuller, represents Wembley plc's bid to retain Wembley as the site of the UK's national stadium.

Halcrow's plan involves retaining the twin-towers, but demolishing the rest of the stadium, subject to discussions with English Heritage. The new stadium will be capable of holding 80,000 people. The design includes a slim main roof suspended by cables from four masts and allows for a fabric roof to be added over the pitch area.

The Sports Council is due to announce its preferred choice for a new national stadium in September. Five cities are bidding to win the prize which will be partly financed by National Lottery funds.

Birmingham is touting a œ100 million, 80,000-seat stadium near the NEC. Manchester is offering the 80,000-seat stadium first put forward for the 2000 Olympics. Bradford plans a œ200 million stadium at Odsal rugby league ground and Sheffield has plans for a œ40 million redevelopment of the Don Valley Stadium.