Agreement has finally been reached between property developer Peel Holdings and the BBC to relocate five BBC departments from London to mediacity:uk at Salford Quays.
In anticipation of agreement being reached, site clearance had already begun earlier this week on the first phase of what will ultimately be a 200 acre development.
Phase one of mediacity:uk, which includes the BBC buildings, is scheduled for completion by 2011.
Approximately 1,500 London based posts will relocate to the site together with the 800 staff, currently based at the BBC in Manchester.
The confirmation ends months of will-it won’t-it speculation with many commentators – primarily in London – saying it was unlikely to happen and if it did, in a watered-down solution.
Felicity Goodey
Felicity Goodey, chairman of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company said:“This is the news we have all been waiting for. It’s great news for Salford, for Manchester and the country as a whole.”
The departments which will be relocating to mediacity:uk are Children’s, BBC Children’s Learning, BBC Sport, BBC Radio Five Live and parts of BBC Future Media and Technology including BBC Research & Development.
A number of personnel involved with the various departments have already moved or are in the process of moving north.
Bryan Gray
The move has the potential to become Manchester’s biggest ever inward investment, outweighing that of Ford opening its first production line outside the US in Trafford Park before the Second World War. The NWDA, which is providing substantial funding to enable the relocation to take place, forecasts an additional contribution to the regional economy of £1bn plus over five years.
Bryan Gray, chairman of the NWDA and of the mediacity:uk steering group, said:“Today is a momentous day for the mediacity:uk project, work will start immediately to create the largest BBC presence outside of London. The vision of a world-class media city is now underway and will ensure creative industries in the North West and the UK can compete on a global playing field for generations to come.”
John Whittaker
John Whittaker, chairman of Peel Holdings said: “We are delighted that the BBC has now committed to its move to mediacity:uk. I look forward to working with the BBC and other media partners in developing the world’s leading creative, technology and media environment. Peel, supported by our partners Salford City Council, Salford URC and the NWDA, is equally committed to doing what we do best and delivering an iconic development of the highest quality that will benefit not just the North West but the UK as a whole.”
The BBC will occupy three buildings from 2011 covering office space, production facilities and a studio block. In total it will lease 46, 475sq m of commercial space from Peel.
Caroline Thomson, chief operating officer of the BBC, will be the executive director with responsibility for delivering the implementation of the BBC's move to Salford.
mediacity:uk has been developed by a partnership of Peel Holdings, the NWDA, Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company and Salford City Council.
The Manchester office of law firm Cobbetts advised Peel Holdings with Lovells in London advising the BBC.
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