FEWER than half of BBC middle managers invited to move to Salford as part of the corporation's 'big move north' have agreed to do so.

An estimated 1,400 staff posts are due to relocate from London to the MediaCity:UK site, along with about 800 jobs at the BBC's current Manchester HQ.

Relocate
Five departments, including BBC Sport, Radio Five Live and Children's, will transfer in 2011. The BBC announced today (FRI) that 109 out of 261 senior journalists, production managers and engineers in those departments heading north had agreed to relocate. BBC bosses insisted the 42 per cent coming north was 'higher than expected'. Fifteen of 32 senior managers have previously told the BBC they are willing to transfer to the new Salford headquarters.

Re-structure
Some 114 staff from BBC Sport will make their decisions by July 14 after being given extra time because of an internal re-structure. And the last wave of BBC staff involved are expected to make their decisions by the Autumn. Peter Salmon, director of BBC North, said: "I am excited that so many people have decided to join us to help create the new BBC North, and this news is a big boost for our future prospects.

'Pleasing'
"What is pleasing is not just the numbers but the quality of the people who are now getting engaged with our new enterprise from some crucial parts of the BBC. This group will play a key role in developing our plans and I want to start working with them this year to shape the new future at BBC North. While the overall percentage is high for a relocation of this size, I do understand that some people are not able to join us, and I completely sympathise with those colleagues for whom it has not been possible, for a variety of personal and family reasons."

'New beginning'
One of those who decided to move north, Ewan Vinnicombe, a Blue Peter producer in the Children's department, said: "For me, the chance to be part of a new beginning for the BBC was the deciding factor in saying yes. I want Children's to be at the heart of BBC North and you never normally get a chance like this. It is certainly a big decision for both myself and my partner, but having an attachment in Entertainment at BBC Manchester a few years ago and knowing how much I enjoyed living in the area then, I decided I couldn't say no to this opportunity."

'Friends'
Dan Walker, a presenter for BBC Sport, said: "Having worked and lived in Manchester there is no fear-factor for my wife and family moving north. The difficult thing for us is leaving friends and our church in London. That said - the move is exciting and I am looking forward to working in an office packed with new stuff and being able to make even better programmes for the BBC." Five Live's Nicky Campbell and Peter Allen have already said they will work in Salford.