The NEC was originally going to be built adjacent to the
M1 motorway (junction 21) near
Leicester but it was turned down by
Leicestershire County Council with claims that "The big shows won't move away from London". In November 1971, the
Secretary of State for the Environment granted outline planning approval for the National Exhibition Centre. On 16 February 1973, then Prime Minister
Edward Heath travelled up from London to cut a white ribbon and initiate its construction, which was carried out by RM Douglas (known today as
Tilbury Douglas), to a design by Edward Mills. The NEC was opened by
Queen Elizabeth II on 2 February 1976.
Expansion of the complex The seventh hall of the NEC complex, a multi-purpose indoor arena named the
Birmingham International Arena (currently branded BP Pulse Live), opened in December 1980. On 23 March 1989, Queen Elizabeth II opened three new halls. Four more halls were added in 1993, and another four new halls, designed by Seymour Harris and built by
John Laing, were completed in January 1998. A five-year, £40 million venue improvement programme which saw improvements made to everything from the car parking to signage, seating and catering was carried out between 2006 and 2011. ==Exhibitions==