BBC confirms move of five departments to Salford

The BBC has today confirmed that it will relocate five departments from London to Peel Holdings’ Mediacity:uk at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The confirmation gives the green light for work to begin on creating the development on a 200-acre site. The five departments relocating to Mediacity:uk are BBC Children’s, BBC Children’s Learning, BBC Sport, BBC Radio Five Live and parts of BBC Future Media and Technology, including BBC Research & Development. BBC staff currently based at the corporation’s site on Oxford Road in Manchester will also move to Salford Quays. Work on the development is expected to begin “within days”. The BBC will move to three buildings during 2011 as part of phase 1 of the development. The buildings include office space, production facilities and a studio block, covering 500,000 sq ft of commercial accommodation. Peel gained planning approval for the three BBC buildings last month. Bryan Gray, chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), and chair of the Mediacity:uk steering group, said: “Work will start immediately to create the largest BBC presence outside of London. “It’s up to us now to move swiftly to deliver this innovative project, build on the BBC’s presence and encourage other creative and digital talent to Salford Quays.” John Whittaker, chairman of Peel Holdings, said Mediacity:uk would be “the world’s leading creative, technology and media environment”.  He added: “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 selected Salford Quays above Ask Developments’ Central Spine site in Manchester last June. Mediacity:uk is a partnership between Peel Holdings, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company and Salford City Council.