ONE of Hampshire’s most eye-catching buildings has been shortlisted for a top award.

Known as the Marchwood Dome, the £50m rubbish burner on the shores of Southampton Water has dominated the local skyline for the past five years.

The revolutionary energy-from-waste incinerator provides enough electricity to power 22,000 homes.

Now the silver-coloured building, pictured, has been entered in the annual Public Private Finance Awards and could win the category for best designed project. The dome, which is more than 100 metres in diameter, is run by Veolia Environmental Services.

Site manager Mike Campbell added: “People are often unsure what the ‘silver dome’ does.

“They’re fascinated when they find out that we process their waste by using it as an energy source, creating enough electricity to power 31 per cent of homes in the New Forest.”