A COMPANY run by former Millennium Dome boss Pierre-Yves Gerbeau is close to completing a £30.2 million deal to take over the management of the Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex in Maidstone.

Property management firm Capital and Regional confirmed this week it had exchanged contracts for the fund management business of current operators and the original developer Marylebone Warwick Balfour.

The deal includes 18 sites across the UK which will be managed, once final legal negotiations are complete, by a division of the company called Xscape led by Mr Gerbeau.

Capital and Regional said that it would be business as normal for the Lockmeadow site, which opened in September 1998. However existing improvements that Capital and Regional had been considering will be put on hold, pending a review of the business.

Plans in the pipeline had included revamping the front of the complex and changing the approach to the front ramp and steps

A spokesman said: "Capital and Regional plc, a quoted property company, specialising in co-investing asset management has exchanged on the purchase of the MWB leisure fund business.

"The Xscape division of C and R with P Y Gerbeau, former Millennium Dome boss at the helm will be looking after these businesses. It is anticipated that they will unveil plans for the future of the leisure parks in the not too distant future. In the meantime the business will remain as normal.

"Whether these will affect Maidstone remains to be seen. We will be looking at ways to give consumers a better experience. With PY at the helm great things can be expected."