Manchester reveals BBC media zone bid

Ian Wylie

May 25, 2006

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IT'S a vision of the future - and one that will become a reality if the BBC locate their new media zone in Manchester.

Office buildings will mix with studios, cafes, shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and public spaces in the "heart of the city" proposal.

Manchester-based Ask Developments, which owns most of the 22-acre Central Spine site, today released these new images of the plans. They say it "will act as a magnet for creative talent" leading to an explosion of ideas.

Media Zone Manchester is described as "a sharp modern take on a classical colonnade winding through top-notch new buildings, via an arcade of railway arches, an event square and a market place".

Manchester's shortlisted site lies between the Mancunian Way and Whitworth Street, near the "Oxford Road corridor".

The é400m move north of five BBC departments and 1,500 staff is due to start in 2010 with the creation of a media zone in either Manchester or at Salford Quays. Salford's plans have already been revealed.

BBC governors meet on June 15 to consider both bids, but the final go-ahead depends on a satisfactory licence fee deal from the government. An announcement on that is due later next month.

BBC Sport, Children's BBC, Radio Five Live, Formal Learning and New Media are all due to move north.

The BBC's existing 800 Manchester staff will also transfer to the new media zone, as the plans include the closure of the current Oxford Road HQ.

Those backing the move to Manchester promise a world class development, near the university, other leading research facilities and existing cultural, creative and media activities.

Independent consultants estimate the BBC North project could generate 4,400 jobs and add é1.5bn to the region's economy over 10 years.

Mark Ridley, head of the Manchester office of property firm Savills, says: "The creative energy generated by the city centre will be the key to attracting the liveliest and brightest people to grow the talent pool.

Media Zone Manchester is not only where you want to be, it's where your clients, partners, friends and family will want you to be."

Property agent Ken Bishop, director of DTZ, is also supporting Manchester. "It's not just a 22-acre site. The media zone will be a hub, a focus, a sweet spot in the city centre - the possibilities are endless."

A later phase of the development includes proposals to construct a taller building which would contain both a hotel and residential accommodation.

Ask Developments' website highlights their plans for Media Zone Manchester at www.mzmanchester.com

Should the BBC move to Salford or Manchester? Have your say.

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Pamela, Crumpsall (25/05/2006 at 09:32)

It would have been better if the BBC had purchased the land from Granada that used to be the car-park of the Studios tour. It's in a good location next to the Irwell, and Granada have made several programmes for the BBC. It might keep the name of Granada alive, and encourage good television making if two TV companies were close together in one big media heaven. Now if only the Manchester Evening News moved there we would have the best zone in Britain.

Chris, Manchester (25/05/2006 at 10:47)

It looks amazing. Less 'pie-in-the-sky' than the Salford Quays proposal. Hope this one wins!

MM, Stockport (25/05/2006 at 11:10)

Manchester is by far the best option, and there will be something for everyone in one location. No matter how much development goes on at the Salford quay, it will always be overshadowed by salfords other reputation as a rough area.

mike, city centre Manchester (25/05/2006 at 11:40)

If you have lived and worked in a city all your life you do not want to be made to move jobwise whether it is London Manchester Liverpool Sheffield and so on. Be realistic Londoners living in Salford dream on.

Andrew, Manchester (25/05/2006 at 15:00)

The Quays option is so infinitely better that this is a total no-brainer. Media City will win by a landslide, and this will be one of the best media quarters in the world when complete.

Dave, Bury (25/05/2006 at 15:25)

Manchester's bid is basically a regeneration proposal on the otuskirts of central manchester whilst Salford's bid is so much more. It has vision for the future with some great concepts alongside a waterway almost like a ptoential mdern Venice of the North. The BBC really need to go for Salford don't mis this opportunity.!

Mancunian, Cheadle Hulme (25/05/2006 at 15:52)

The city of Mnachester has no God given right to be selected. The Salford bid - and the city itself - hold great merit. Salford even lead the way in encompassing 'private' money when northern cities were to the left of Lenin, politically!
But in all honesty, Manchester needs the vote and the future media city needs the 'Manchester' label. They are both fantastic proposals, but surely Manchester City Council cannot let this opportunity slip through their hands.

Joe, City Cntr (25/05/2006 at 16:08)

Mike, City Cntr, who said anything about Londoners living in Salford, the media zone is for them to work, they can live where ever they choose and travel to work, everyone else does!

Angry McNasty, City Centre (25/05/2006 at 16:31)

This is an amazing proposal, let hope they go with this one, it would give an amazing vibrance to the city instead of being disjointed out in the quays!

Drew, Worsley (25/05/2006 at 16:56)

It would have been fairer to also include a link to the Quays proposal to enable comparison. For anyone interested, here it is.

http://www.mediacityuk.co.uk/home.html

Len Cohen, London (25/05/2006 at 22:16)

The greater Manchester connurbation comprises more than just central Manchester. I cannot think of a better venue for the BBC media zone than coming into ECCLES TOWN CENTRE. Geographically and transport wise so well located. Land and development costs are realistic and the town centre would react positively to such a input by the BBC. Forget expensive and over developed central Manchester - COME AND LOCATE IN ECCLES TOWN CENTRE. Close to everything and so viable and practical.

James, Altrincham (25/05/2006 at 23:18)

The Salford Quays project should get it. This city centre project will go ahead in some form, whether the BBC move there or not. But Salford desperately needs this and a huge Media City will put this area on the map. The only way Salford will lose its 'rough image' (as someone wrote) is if investment is pumped into it to change it for the better.

pete, altrincham (26/05/2006 at 02:56)

Keep the BBC out of Manchester! Scrap the licence fee.

John O'Rafferty, Gorton (26/05/2006 at 07:48)

Getting into Manchester down Oxford Rd is a nightmare now. If this "spine" is used it create even greater mayhem. The Quays is by far the better option.

Sophie, Manchester (26/05/2006 at 09:31)

The Salford Quays plans are far more exciting and ambitious than Manchester's. The BBC coming would clearly mean more to the City of Salford and I think the BBC should take that into account.

Sarah, Manchester (26/05/2006 at 14:58)

Both plans are fantastic. It's great for the whole of the North West, whether it's in the City Centre or at the quays.

Pete in Altrincham, open your eyes and think of employment opportunities and what it can do for the area instead of the ??11 per month you pay.

Personally, I'm excited either way because Manchester and Salford are cities to be proud of.

buzzthepot, chingford (27/05/2006 at 02:10)

salford!! great scum hole of the earth. went there once, visiting a mate at uni. never went back. full of wannabe gangtas and that was just the birds.

Pamela, Crumpsall (27/05/2006 at 14:30)

I wouldn't send my worst enemy to Salford Quays. Not until they clear up the crime hotspot of Ordsall across the road.

A Place next to Granada would both straddle Manchester and Salford and be within easy reach of Salford Central and Oxford Road Railway Stations for people travelling into the area. It's also close to Liverpool Road Station, the worlds first passenger railway station (now part of the Museum of Science and Industry)

Jo Gamble, Manchester (31/05/2006 at 10:16)

The plans for Salford not only look more exciting, the ambition and scale is just much more significant. Let's do something special!

Lucy, Runcorn (31/05/2006 at 15:35)

I would have thought that Salford is the better site to promote the north West. Oxford Road is full of students and caters to their needs, convenience sores, takeaways etc, it hardly gives off a professional image like the Quays does.

steve, Ordsall (01/06/2006 at 09:18)

Reply to Buzzthepot where in Salford did you stay? If you visit ANY city there are parts of that city which are nice and others that are crime ridden, that is ANY city.
Reply to Pamela from Crunmpsall When did you last visit Ordsall? There is massive building works on high quality housing and there is an influx of new owner occupiers that have a stake in the revival of Ordsall. There is change going on everywhere in Salford and Manchester. What does a local authority have to do to change outdated opinions and perceptions that are no longer true or relevant? Yes crime does happen, it happens everywhere, but after living in Ordsall for over 20 years, I am convinced that it is no worse than anywhere else. Both the sites that have been chosen are close to areas that have in the past been associated with crime, Ordsall and Moss Side, however with further investment from the BBC either Manchester or Salford council can carry on the good work and fight crime in either area. Crumpsall is hardly crime free is it? I have friends and relatives that live there, and my perception is that it is worse than Ordsall. Finally why do you bring up a site adjacent to Granada that has been thrown out by the BBC already, it is no good in promoting a site that has already been rejected. Either of the sites that have been short listed will be great for the region and we should not reduce ourselves to childlike name calling of either of the propose areas. As for your statement about not wanting your worst enemy to live in Ordsall, what a childish thing to say and not worthy of further comment

Karen, Ancoats (02/06/2006 at 15:36)

Pamela from Crumpsall, I doubt that there are any properties in Crumpsall that are worth half a million pounds, unlike those on Salford Quays. How many footballers and celebrities live in your area? It sounds like sour grapes because you cant afford to live in such a fantastic place. I wish I had the money to live there. Good luck to both of the proposals they are eqaually good, I wouldnt like to chose, both have great things going for them.

Dean, Salford (05/06/2006 at 10:30)

It wont make any difference to people that live in Manchester or Salford, we are unlikely to get jobs there, except cleaning jobs, so why the rivalry?

Mr Peterson, Swinton (07/06/2006 at 15:02)

Just think about all the money that has been spent in Manchester and Salford to prepare these bids, the loser might just as well thrown it down a grid. It doesnt matter though does it, the council tax payer will pick up the bill. For selfish reasons I hope Salford get the BBC, at least there would be a return on our outlay. Somehow I doubt it though. The BBC are just playing one council off against the other to see who gives them the most sweetners.

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