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By. H. Carter LORD Richard Rogers is one of four leading British architects bidding for the estimated £200 million contract to build Palma's new convention centre and five-star hotel complex.

The confirmed site for the new development is on the plot of land in front of the GESA building at the entrance to Palma along the main road into the city from the airport.

A total of 157 projects have been submitted by top architects from across the world and the winning bid is due to be announced on June 15.
The two finalists will be decided at the start of May.
In the meantime, the full identity of many of the architects in competition is being kept a closely guarded secret.
However, four projects have been submitted from Britain along with three from Germany, one from Holland, two from Portugal and nine from Italy.
Sir Richard Rogers has worked in the Balearics before. He designed the ParcBit technology park for the previous PP government.
The rest of the projects submitted have all been designed by either Balearic and Spanish practices.
Construction work on the development, which will include a 370-room luxury hotel, will not actually start until 2007. The architect of the winning bid will have to present the full and final designs within a maximum period of nine months.

Sources for the Balearic government and Palma city council have said that they are pleased with the international response to the project which, it is estimated, could cost over £200 million to build.