Press
Releases |
 |
 |
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ move to Salford gets green light
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has reached agreement with the developer Peel Holdings over the detailed terms under which it will occupy buildings in the mediacity:uk development at Salford Quays.
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust has today approved the terms of the deal, meaning that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s proposed move of five of its London-based departments to the North of England will now definitely go ahead.
Ìý
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director-General, Mark Thompson, said: "I'm delighted that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s vision for its expanded presence in the North of England is now firmly on the road to reality. I'm excited by the plans and believe they have a key part to play in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s future.
Ìý
"The modern, multimedia broadcast and production centre in Salford will shift the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s centre of gravity away from London, bringing a range of creative benefits to us and, I hope, helping us to better reflect and represent the whole of the UK.
Ìý
"I'm glad that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust agreed that this project represents value for money for licence fee payers and that we are now able to proceed."
Ìý
It is expected that preliminary work will begin at mediacity:uk in Salford Quays within days, followed by the start of construction works in September 2007.
Ìý
The mediacity:uk site is being developed by a partnership comprising the Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, the North West Regional Development Agency, Peel Holdings and Salford City Council.
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ will move five London-based departments, including two television channels and two radio networks, to Salford Quays:
Ìý
- ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Children's (including CÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and CBeebies television and radio);
- ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Children's Learning;
- parts of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Future Media & Technology (including ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research & Development);
- ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Five Live (including Five Live Sports Extra);
- ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sport.
Ìý
Approximately 1,500 London-based posts will relocate to Salford Quays in 2011. Around 800 staff currently based at the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in Manchester will also move to the new site.
Ìý
Caroline Thomson, Chief Operating Officer of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, will be the Executive Director with responsibility for delivering the implementation of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s move to Salford.
Ìý
She said: "I'm delighted that we have now finalised the terms for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s presence at the mediacity:uk development. This is a really exciting project for us all and I look forward to working with colleagues in Peel Holdings and the development consortium to turn the vision into a reality."
Ìý
Pat Loughrey, Director, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Nations & Regions, who has led the project up to this point, continues his responsibility for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s wider Out Of London strategy, which is committed to distributing the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s production spend and commissioning decisions more widely across the whole of the UK.
Ìý
Ìý
Notes to Editors
Ìý
Key dates:
Ìý
Jun 2004 |
Building Public Value published, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s contribution to its Charter Review process. Building Public Value outlines the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s vision for a less "London-centric" ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, including a potential move of major departments to the North of England. |
Ìý | Dec 2004 |
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director-General Mark Thompson announces the move of five London-based ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ departments to the North of England: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Children's; ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Children's Learning; ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Future Media & Technology; ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Five Live; ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sport. |
Ìý | Aug 2005 |
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ identifies four potential sites - two in Salford and two in Manchester. |
Ìý | Jan 2006 |
Four possible sites reduced to two - Salford Quays in Salford and Central Spine in Manchester. |
Ìý | Jul 2006 |
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ announces mediacity:uk Salford Quays as the preferred bidder, a brownfield site based on 200 acres of former dockland at Salford Quays and developed by a partnership of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, Peel Holdings, Salford City Council and the North West Regional Development Agency. |
Ìý | Apr 2007 |
Final planning permission granted for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ buildings by Salford City Council. |
Ìý | May 2007 |
Agreement reached between ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and Peel Holdings and approved by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust. |
Ìý
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Press Office
Ìý
|