The London Development Agency has shortlisted six architectural teams in the competition to design the Olympic Aquatics Centre planned for the Olympic Park in East London.

The complex, a key venue in the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, attracted nearly 200 expressions of interest and 40 submissions, with those shortlisted including FaulknerBrowns; Make, Bennetts; Studio Zoppini, Zaha Hadid, Behnisch, Behnisch and Partner; Dominique Perrault and Massimiliano Fuksas.

The facility will offer an elite training facility for athletes but also provide swimming opportunities for the local community. It will be funded by Sport England and is not dependent on the success of the London 2012 bid – it will be built regardless.

Roger Draper, chief executive of Sport England, said: “The final six architects that have been chosen to design the proposed Aquatics Centre have impressed the panel with their exciting mix of design talent.

“Sport England’s investment in this facility will be a significant part of the bid process for bringing the Olympic Games to London in 2012 and will give the nation a world class facility for all to use.”

The designers have until November to submit detailed plans with the winner being selected at the end of January 2005. The chosen design will be made available to the International Olympic Committee when they visit London in February.

The chair of London 2012, Sebastian Coe, said: “The Aquatics Centre will leave a lasting legacy for the community and will be in use before the start of the Games. This is what the Olympics is all about – bringing better sports facilities to the country and encouraging everyone to take part in sport.”

FaulknerBrowns is the only UK-based architect shortlisted for the project.

The company, which designed the Manchester Aquatics Centre, is also behind two other potential Olympic venues: it designed the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy – which would host sailing events in 2012 – and is also working on a feasibility study for the VeloPark planned for the East London Olympic Park. Details: www.lda.gov.uk