BBC's Salford move may be delayed a year

Ian Wylie

October 16, 2006

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PLANS: At the Quays.

THE BBC's é400m move to Salford could be delayed by a year - even if it gets the final go-ahead.

Backers warn that millions of pounds of already-spent public and private money will be wasted if it is abandoned.

Plans to transfer 1,500 jobs and five departments from London to a "mediacity" near Salford Quays were due to be completed by 2010.

But the hold-up in the government's licence fee settlement decision could now delay the BBC North Project until 2011.

A government licence fee announcement is expected by the end of next month, which leaves BBC governors little time to consider the options before they are abolished at the end of the year.

If the governors don't make an immediate decision, the issue will be carried forward for the new BBC Trust, which replaces the governors on January 1.

Cash

Meanwhile, the row over the project has escalated, amid fears that the BBC may not get enough government cash to proceed.

Broadcasting minister Shaun Woodward has hit out at comments by BBC director general Mark Thompson, who said he might not be able to recommend the Salford move if there was a low settlement.

Mr Woodward, whose department is responsible for the fee decision, described the remarks as a cynical move by the BBC to put pressure on the government.

"Cynicism is unwise on the BBC's part when it comes to Manchester," said Mr Woodward. "The public expect the BBC to be strong, independent and good value for money. But value for money means employment isn't restricted to London."

Denial

BBC chairman Michael Grade has denied Mr Thompson's remarks were a threat - he was simply pointing out the facts.

The BBC maintain the Salford move has not been singled out for the axe in case of a low fee. It would be looked at again, along with all of the BBC's other plans, if not enough cash was available for all of them. Then, it will be up to the BBC governors - or BBC Trust - to make final decisions about which ones are approved.

Mr Grade has also come under pressure from the three Regional Development Agencies in the north and the Northern Way economic alliance, who say the Salford move would lead to savings for the BBC.

An open letter, signed by Northwest Regional Development Agency chairman Bryan Gray, sought to remind the BBC of the reasons why it chose to relocate in the first place.

"Project North was welcomed as a sign the BBC was about to recognise the 14.4m licence fee payers who live here, a population considerably greater than that of all the nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland put together," wrote Mr Gray.

Options

"In the past two years, the BBC has caused millions of pounds of public and private sector money to be spent putting together a range of options to enable the BBC to move into a major media hub in the north."

The Salford move - to an area in Salford Quays to be named mediacity:uk - will reconnect the BBC to audiences in the north, where a quarter of the population lives, while creating 15,500 jobs, he added.

He said mediacity:uk represented "remarkable value for money", with the BBC becoming one of the most prominent tenants, while not having to invest a penny to build. In an indication of how close the BBC's deal with mediacity:uk is to completion, Mr Gray said legal contracts would soon be ready for signing.

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Mike, Chorlton (16/10/2006 at 12:02)

Why should we in northern England, representing 25% of the licence fee, fund an organisation that is content to spend virtually 100% in one city - London? We should use our licence fee (it's our money, not the BBC's money depsite what the 'luvvies' may think) to set up our own public broadcaster here.

Mark, Stockport (16/10/2006 at 12:39)

Totally agree Mike! But it shouldn't just be the BBC that ought to be regionalised - what about ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5 too? I thought the old ITV region system worked perfectly - and the Government should never have allowed ITV to "centralise" into London, where the quality of output is now appalling. Yes they'd complain about the costs and not been able to compete with Satellite broadcasters - but they could be given tax incentives?
Pity our local MPs don't fight for "real" local TV and "real" local radio - that isn't all run from London & that provides even more job opportunities in London!

cb, Near Mediacity:uk (apparently) (16/10/2006 at 14:02)

Renamed "mediacity:uk" Its already called Salford Quays thank you!! at least this way the BBC dont have to admit to being in Salford. So the BBC are quite happy to take any regereration money destined for Salford but not its name. What next? PR about thousands of jobs for Salford When in fact its 100 cleaners on minimum wage from Salford and 900 on a resonable wage, moving up from London and the Home Counties, who wont move to Salford anyway.

pete, manchester (16/10/2006 at 15:27)

A years delay will do for now. I'm pleased to see this project hitting problems. Perhaps it will never happen. Let's scrap the licence fee and make the BBC sell to willing customers only, and then it can put its studios anywhere it likes.

lizzard, Devon (16/10/2006 at 19:55)

For a long time now, I have not watched/owned a T.V. I am constantly being bombarded with letters from some collection agency demanding I get a licence or face huge fines????. To avoid this I should fone a high premium number etc. This agency/activity is paid for by the BBC, your licence fees. could I ask you all to stop paying your fees so the BBC stop wasting them and my time?

Batman, Gotham City (16/10/2006 at 22:52)

CB - the journalist that wrote this story is wrong. There are no plans to change the name of the area of Salford Quays to mediacity:uk - that would be preposterous. Mediacity:uk was the local authority's pitch to the BBC, to demonstrate that they were keen to go far beyond just attracting the BBC to bring jobs to the city, but want this to act as a catalyst to have Salford associated with creativity, production and performance in the media sphere. Salford City Council should be congratulated on their vision.

Mark, Manchester (16/10/2006 at 23:28)

cb: Its not called Salford Quays. Its called The Quays. And half of it is in Trafford.

cb, Near Mediacity:uk (apparently) (17/10/2006 at 13:08)

Mark
The Quays is the Generic name for an area which includes Salford Quays This development is on the north side of the ship canal and therefore whilst within the Quays is in Salford Quays.

A Hinds, Bolton (17/10/2006 at 14:18)

Not only does Manchester offer the most cosmopolitan of business and social communities, but the selected site at Salford Quays must represent unique urban value in the UK.
This waterside community offers a variety of attractions different from even the city centre. Its amenities are geared up for the BBC move.
As our northern housing market cannot be supported by large international banking bonuses to its employees, and as our more traditional manufacturing base has through time been replaced by a reliance upon the consumer's retailing ability, our local economy now deserves a greater share of the south's profitable service industry economy.
We have shown faith in the BBC. It is now time the BBC replaces that faith in Manchester and moves, as planned, to Salford Quays.

Quays Mark, Salford Quays (01/10/2007 at 08:43)

For a detailed, maintained photographic timeline of the Media City : UK (MC:UK) Salford Quays development site, do a search on 'media city uk salford quays q3' in Google. Actual visible development started in June and the first full sized crane went up yesterday. Judging by the pace of the development and the fact that aspects of the first building (3-4 storeys) are already in place, the pace of construction is quite impressive to complete by 2010/11.

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