Salford bid wins BBC move north

Exclusive by Ian Wylie

June 15, 2006

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WIN: Salford's vision.

SALFORD today won the race to host the BBCés new media zone. The Salford Quays site was chosen ahead of Manchesterés Central Spine after the BBCés Board of Governors decided it was the best location for the é400m move north.

A number of final site issues remain to be resolved and the race could re-open if Salford fail to satisfy them.

(Read full statements from the BBC board of governors, and Director General Mark Thompson.)

But providing those are met, five departments and around 1,500 staff posts are due to transfer to Salfordés Media City from London in 2010.

The governors authorised the BBC North Project team to treat Salford as the éleading bidderé with a view to them becoming the épreferred bidderé provided the outstanding issues can be resolved.

They say this marks a significant step forward in realising the vision of a less London-focused BBC.

Futuristic

Around 800 BBC staff at the existing Oxford Road HQ will also move to the futuristic 200-acre site on land owned by Peel Holdings, owners of the Trafford Centre shopping mall.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said the move to Salford Quays would have a huge impact on the area's economy.

It was put forward as a modern city with its own attractions.

Close to The Lowry arts centre and Imperial War Museum, it will include shops, apartments, public squares and another bridge across the Manchester Ship Canal.

Other major media and technology companies will also be asked to join the BBC as partners on the new site.

Final issues

The BBC Project North team will now take forward their plans in detail with both Salford city council and Peel Holdings, including work to resolve the final issues raised by the govenors.

BBC Sport, Radio Five Live, Childrenés BBC, New Media and Formal Learning are all due to move out of the capital and make their home in Salford.

Manchesterés rival Central Spine bid on land between the Mancunian Way and Whitworth Street promised a éheart of the cityé location with a mix of new buildings and public spaces, along with studios, cafes, shops, restaurants and hotels.

Both sites were examined in detail, with the costs, benefits and affordability of each location taken into consideration by the governors.

Go-ahead

But the final go-ahead for the move still awaits a government decision on the new licence fee deal, not due until October at the earliest.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson had made clear that the Greater Manchester move, along with all his other plans, depends on a satisfactory deal.

The governors say their final decision on the move will be based on two key factors - whether it represents value for money for licence fee payers and the affordability of the project. They also stressed that a final decision cannot be taken until after the licence fee settlement is known.

BBC bosses have made no secret of the fact that they would welcome ITV Granada as a partner in their media zone if it gets the final go-ahead. That could even involve Granada quitting their current Quay Street site to move to the new Salford Media City.

ARE you pleased the Salford bid has been chosen ahead of Manchester? Have your say.

SEE more details of the Salford bid here, and visit the bid website here.

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Drew, Worsley (15/06/2006 at 10:37)

This is fantastic news for the whole of Manchester. The Quays site can be truly amazing with world class facilities. Just don't let the Beeb back out now.

john m, Rusholme (15/06/2006 at 10:45)

A decision to be applauded as I personally felt it was the better location and submission.
However the BBC demand for huge licence fee increases I oppose. The present Labour government have made many mistakes,retention of the licence fee is in my view one of their greatest. Let them forget the last century and compete with other channels for revenue. They already advertise extensively their own products and radio Times betwen programmes.

Arthur Hope, Heald Green (15/06/2006 at 11:53)

Good news for Salford (and Manchester), but I'll believe it when it actually happens. Wasn't there a rumour circulating that the BBC top brass were secretly looking to dump the plans to move north?

Richard, Salford (15/06/2006 at 12:02)

Very, very bad choice by the bbc.

Dave, Manchester (15/06/2006 at 12:05)

Hope they don't get car-jacked on the way to their nice new offices...

Mark, South Manchester (15/06/2006 at 12:16)

The BBC won't be moving! They've already got their excuse "neatly in place" - they'll blame the Government when the Government inevitably turn down (as widely reported) this huge asked for increase in the license fee.
Strange though isn't it, how the license fee settlement has not stopped the BBC pumping millions into major building works in London? Nor paying Jonathan Ross ??18million either!!!

Adam Walsh, Langworthy (15/06/2006 at 12:18)

It makes you proud to be a Salfordian. Whatever people say about Salford Council I'm proud of the regeneration that they are bringing about and this is another feather in their cap. Good for Salford, good for the North West.

TonyH, Blackley (15/06/2006 at 12:38)

Yet another poor attempt by Manchester Council. Salford is leading they way (as thay have for a number of years!) and all I can see is Manchester losing out more and more to Salford. Wel done to them and shame on Manchester!

Matt, Manchester (15/06/2006 at 12:41)

I hope that with such a visible and prestigous development the architects and developers come up with higher quality buildings than the recent eyesores that have appeared in the Quays, the Lowry excepted. There is no excuse for low quality, badly designed buildings for the BBC.

Steve, eccles (15/06/2006 at 12:44)

Gonna be soooo funny when all these luvie types meet the locals. Less that half a mile away the fire brigade cannot go about their business without being pelted with bricks & bottles. I wonder if the BBC has allowed for protection money and the year on year increase in insurance premiums due to claim after claim. The quays is a dangerous place and most business's move out due to the extremely HIGH crime levels and burglary's. We'll just have to wait and see I suppose.

wrong choice, manc (15/06/2006 at 13:11)

It will be great if it happens but if I suspect it will get as far as the price hike on the license fee and that will be that.

Wrong choice of site though. Central Spine was the one. Expect thge BBC to be swallowed up by the size of Salford Quays and rarely heard of in the city centre.

BBC staff will be gutted. Its bad enough being dragged away from your home to a fantastic city location but to be dragged away to a glorified business park with museums and not a decent pub or supermarket in sight is a kick in the teeth.

J, Salford (15/06/2006 at 13:22)

I don't know what people are talking about The Quays being a dangerous place as if the Manchester location was any safer. It's the same in any central city location. The central Manchester bid was just a minute from Moss Side remember, if you want to talk about bordering areas.

This is fantastic news for the whole region. The Salford site was always a big contender with The Quays area being already wonderfully equipped and many future improvements planned to happen regardless of whether the BBC move or not (new NHS drop in centre etc.). Lets not also forget that the Salford site is 10 times the size of the Manchester bid, and the vision much bigger and imaginative.

The subsequent knock on effects for the other Central Salford areas (Eccles, Langworthy, Ordsall etc.), which are already having huge amounts of money and effort ploughed into them, as well as the effects on Manchester and the other Greater Manchester boroughs and the North West will be huge.

I'm very very excited.

Drew, Worsley (15/06/2006 at 13:29)

Have all the moaners and whingers ever actually BEEN to the Lowry or the IWM North? It's a fantastic location and a fantastic day/night out, and will only get better with the further expansion of the Quays area. Some people are just determined to look on the miserable side of everything.

James, Altrincham (15/06/2006 at 13:31)

Excellent decision - Salford's bid was the best by far. Just hope that the BBC actually has the guts to go through with this, although I'm sure they'll find some excuse not to leave their precious London.

J, Salford (15/06/2006 at 13:33)

To Steve from Eccles. Most businesses don't move out of The Quays because of crime. Utter nonsense. There are many established names down there, including BUPA and Barclays (who have their Northers UKIOC down there) as well as Orange, XFM etc. The many recent additions completely contradict what you say. And as for your massively derogatory comments about local Salfordians, you manage to actually insult yourself (Eccles is in Salford baby!)

And to Matt in Manchester, there are many fine examples of architecture down on The Quays (NV apartments on the Salford side and the Imperial War Museum North on the Trafford side to name but a few). Salford council have very progressive policies in place now to stop low quality buildings, so I fear there is nothing to worry about.

Graham, Sale (15/06/2006 at 13:46)

Salford is probably the more attractive option - car jackings and protection money aside! Just get all the used condoms and supermarket trolleys out of the quayside!

Dave, Manchester (15/06/2006 at 13:47)

The BBC is bound to have Manchester on its addresses anyway given that very few people have heard of Salford. How that place ever became a City is beyond me!

Matt Taylor, Bolton (15/06/2006 at 13:53)

This is fantastic news for Salford. Manchester could only offer a Media Quarter but Salford can offer a Media City, all in the fabulous Salford Quays location and still within a stones throw of Manchester City Centre.

Boo of Salford, Exiled in Gateshead (15/06/2006 at 14:00)

I bet you won't see 'Produced by BBC Salford' on any closing titles eh..??? Manchester may have lost out, but it will still be associated with our bigger sister by the name 'BBC Manchester'

Mike, Stockport (15/06/2006 at 14:09)

TonyH of Blackley, don't be so parochial! It really makes not a smidgeon of difference whether the Beeb go to Salford or Manchester. The whole city, which for the purposes of the argument comprises both Manchester and Salford, will benefit.

Anon, BBC Manchester (15/06/2006 at 14:37)

The location is a terrible choice in terms of developing northern media (which I thought was the main reason for the move in the first place).

I find the idea of a media city where the BBC and 'chosen' partners are isolated in a media enclave worrying. It will make the interaction with smaller companies and the community in general harder and less likely.

Both sites suffered from this problem but at least the Manchester site would have been in a less isolated location, well connected to public transport and very importantly at the doorstep of one of the biggest student communities in Europe... our future media types, or at least they would have been.

Simon, Salford (15/06/2006 at 14:46)

Whingers- the lot of you. Something good happens in Salford and you cannot see past your small minded view of the negative aspects that are happeing in every UK city. The positives of this move include the rise in house prices and London money being spent in local shops and businesses and the night time economy, not to mention that there is more change of getting the new to Salford citizens to pay the council tax, which does make a change from most of the other none paying Salford residents.

Lucy, London (15/06/2006 at 14:46)

Congratulations to the BBC! What a brave and bold choice, not being swayed by petty local politics!

Helen, Salford (15/06/2006 at 14:48)

Felicity Goodey and her team are an inspiration. We're all proud of what they have achieved for Salford. Fantastic news !!!

Kev, The other poor area of North Manchester (15/06/2006 at 15:18)

I kind of understand while Salford won the bid, space. People from Salford though have to be kidding if they say there isnt a high crime rate there. Ok it is getting better I agree but the locals hate the students (my brother goes Salford Uni) so what will they think of rich Londoners? Salford was rated 9th worst place to live in the UK by Channel 4 so that tells you that it is a bad choice. Manchester City Council should have found some land or CPO'ed a few places to increase the space. But not to keep sour grape congratulations Salford!

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