The approval comes just one week before the BBC Trust meets to make its final decision (aka Big Green Light) on the Beeb’s planned £300m relocation to Salford Quays.
The planning application (for which outline consent was given in October 2006), submitted by Peel, relates to phase one of the proposed 200 acre development of mediacity:uk. It was given final approval by Salford City Council yesterday morning.
Phase one will cover 37 acres of the site of which three office buildings, related new build and residential will occupy approximately 20 acres. The remaining 17 acres relate to public areas including a huge new piazza (twice the size of Trafalgar Square) and a new Metrolink station.
The initial three main office buildings will offer approximately 500,000 sq ft of space of which the BBC is expected to take the majority. There will also be 371 residential units. The exact amount of space that the BBC will take is expected to be confirmed following the Trust meeting.
Phase one is expected to be fully operational by 2010 when the BBC will start taking occupation of the buildings.
Currently five BBC departments are expected to relocate: Radio Five Live, Sport, Children’s TV, R&D and New Media.
It has been suggested that a successful conclusion to the BBC’s decision could result in over £1bn in additional contribution to the regional economy.
If the plans are accepted in their entirety, it could represent Manchester’s biggest ever inward investment, outweighing that of Ford’s decision to commence manufacturing in Trafford Park before WW2.
Phase one is expected to attract over £300m of private investment and provide “homes” for over 1,000 media, creative and service industry businesses, generating over 15,000 jobs at mediacity:uk.
Related developments under discussion, such as Salford University’s possible relocation of a Faculty and 4,500 students to the site, have not been factored into phase one.
ITV has still to announce whether it will ultimately join the BBC at mediacity:uk or fully/partially redevelop its Quay Street operation.
When the final phases are complete, it is expected that mediacity:uk will offer over seven million sq ft of office, production and service/support space.
mediacity:uk is a partnership between Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, Peel Holdings, Salford City Council and the NWDA.
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