Category: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Date: 17.01.2006
Printable version
Today the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is launching the next phase of its plans to relocate key departments from London to Greater Manchester in 2010.
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The departments relocating from London are Children's ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, including the TV channels CÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and CBeebies, Children's Radio and Children's Learning; ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sport; ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ New Media and Technology (including R&D); and radio stations Five Live and Five Live Sports Extra.
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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ announces today that it has shortlisted two sites for the location of a Media Zone in the north of England. The proposed sites have been chosen from a shortlist of four, following a stringent evaluation process conducted by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.
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A parallel independent process by the North West Development Agency (NWDA) favoured the same two sites.
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Mark Thomas, Director of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ North Project, said: "The two sites, Quays Point at Salford Quays and Central Spine in Manchester, have been chosen as - within the required timeframe - they offer the greatest potential for a world-class Media Zone that realises all of the benefits of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s investment.
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"The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ will continue to work with both Manchester City Council and Salford City Council in order to help them develop their remaining proposals so that they maximise the impact for audiences; for the creative industries in the north of England; and for the further regeneration of Salford and Manchester."
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ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director of Nations and Regions, Pat Loughrey, will put forward a recommendation for a preferred site to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Executive and Board of Governors by the summer.
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The Governors' final decision will be based on whether the plans represent value for money for licence payers and whether the proposal is affordable.
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Notes to Editors
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1. The plan to move ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ services to Greater Manchester - 'The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ North Project', is part of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s wider Out of London strategy which is a key component of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Building Public Value vision, announced in 2004.
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2. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Executive and the Board of Governors approved the Manchester plans in principle in December 2004.
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3. In October 2005 the Governors endorsed the findings of the feasibility study produced by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ North Project team, which included a new vision for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in Manchester as part of a Media Zone while retaining the option of creating a new 'stand-alone' ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ operation.
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4. The concept of a Media Zone is a base for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, independent producers, facilities suppliers and, potentially, other broadcasters, on a single site.
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