THE BBC today announced a revised relocation package for staff moving from London to Salford.

It includes a cut in the terms offered to home owners because of the economic downturn. A scheme enabling them to obtain a level of funding from an external company of up to 95 per cent of the market value will now guarantee just 85 per cent.

The money is advanced against the value of the London property to be sold, enabling the staff member to buy a house in the north. Once the house is sold, the owner can still receive up to 100 per cent of the market valuation.

This change to the terms would reduce the risk of the BBC losing money on the relocation because of falling property prices. 

There has been criticism of the generous terms offered to BBC staff to move north but the corporation insists it must offer staff a 'fair' deal for relocating.

In today's announcement BBC bosses also revealed details of a payment of up to a maximum £1,900 a month to property owners who may need to delay moving home immediately.

This will be made available to cover rent, utility bills and a weekly return journey between Manchester and London for up to two years.

"For example, they may have a child at a critical point in their education or a partner who would find it difficult to move their job immediately or have caring responsibilities for an elderly relative," said a BBC spokesman.

"This option is for staff who can demonstrate they need to gradually relocate within a two-year period. In choosing this option, a homeowner would be committing to moving to Salford.

"In practice, expenses would very often be less than the maximum allowed and would need to be fully accounted for and signed off in advance by line managers."

A third option is for staff to sell their own homes privately, with the BBC making available a one-off allowance equivalent to 10 per cent of salary.

In addition professional, removal and other various expenses will be paid.

Some 1,600 jobs are due to move from London to MediaCity at Salford Quays by 2012.

They include five main departments - BBC Sport, Radio Five Live, BBC Children's, Learning and parts of BBC Future Media and Technology.

Based on similar moves, TV and radio bosses expect around 50 per cent of London-based staff to move.

Vacant posts will then be filled in part by new recruits from the region or elsewhere.

All those who agree to transfer north waive any redundancy rights in relation to their London-based role. The BBC maintain that staff requiring financial support at the top level of their packages will be a minority of those moving.

Those on fixed term contracts are not eligible while staff in the most junior roles tend to live in rented rather than owned property. Senior managers have to decide if they want to move north by the end of April this year with other staff making their decision by September 30.

The BBC said: "The guiding principle for the BBC in reviewing relocation allowances has been 'fair but affordable'. "We should not expect staff to meet all the costs of moving themselves and clearly the financial support must be sufficient to encourage trained and experienced staff to make the move.

"Equally, we must be able to justify any relocation policy to the general public in a difficult economic climate.

"It is important to note that supporting an individual staff member to move to Salford, who has been trained and developed at public expense, represents better value for money for the Licence fee payer than redundancy and subsequent recruitment and training costs."

The BBC said that it will make every effort to explore redeployment options for those who decide not to move to Salford, in a bid to avoid redundancy.