The Millennium Dome could be opening for one-off concerts and sporting events later in the year in an attempt to recoup some of the losses caused by keeping the building empty.

English Partnerships, the government regeneration agency appointed to look after the Dome from 1 July, said that while discussions were underway for possible events, no firm plan had been made.

With the ongoing decommissioning of the Dome's contents, the building is currently a 'hard-hat area' with access-only to contractors removing installations. English Partnerships' Jo Whitney, however, said that possibilities were being examined for events from October, when the decommissioning is expected to end.

Running costs of an empty Dome amount to £420,000 per month.