BBC's north west move 'should happen'

Ian Wylie

December 18, 2006

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Tessa Jowell

THE BBC move to Salford is set to go ahead after the government gave it the green light. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell told MPs that money to fund the project will be made available in the BBCés new licence fee settlement.

Although details of the deal will not be announced until the New Year, she added: éIt is my expectation that the BBC will make the move.é

Ms Jowellés surprise announcement during a Commons debate on another issue is an early Christmas present for the BBC North team and those involved in Salfordés planned Media City.

She said: éI was pleased to hear the governors last week say that a move to Salford of key BBC departments would represent value for money for licence fee payers.

éThe government will ensure that the structure of the licence fee settlement makes clear that the move to the north west should happen.

éMore details will be given as part of the announcement on the level of the licence fee which I will make in the New Year.é

Ring-fenced

Her comments imply that cash for the Salford move could be ring-fenced within the licence fee deal é with the ball then placed firmly in the BBCés court.

It virtually guarantees the é400m move north from London of five departments é including BBC Sport, Childrenés BBC and Radio Five Live é involving 1,500 staff posts.

But the BBC said it would have to await full details of the licence fee settlement before it was in a position to comment further on the big move north, planned to take place in 2010 or 2011.

The government is not expected to make its full announcement until January or February, amid speculation that the BBC will receive a low settlement.

Members of the new BBC Trust will then have to make choices about which future plans the corporation can afford to fund.

The governmentés approach could, in effect, make the decision on the Salford move for them é forcing them to go ahead with the project or lose the money.

One other possible way forward which has been looked at by the government is an increase in the BBCés borrowing limit, currently set at é200m, which would help fund the short term costs of the move.

BBC director general Mark Thompson has made clear that this initial épinch pointé in funding is the main hurdle to overcome, with the move certain to save money in the long term.

Oxford Road

The new MediaCity:UK site at Salford Quays will also be home to some 800 BBC staff currently based at the current Oxford Road HQ in Manchester, which will close.

A final go ahead for the BBCés plans will also open the way for other media organisations to join them in Salford.

Last week the outgoing BBC governors said they were satisfied the move was value for money for all licence fee payers, adding that the corporation was on the brink of émassive changeé.

Should the BBC come to Salford? Have your say.

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James, Altrincham (19/12/2006 at 01:26)

Excellent news. Tessa Jowell's always been a good minister and it's good to see that she's determined to make this move go ahead. It will bring enormous benefits to Greater Manchester. Hopefully, it will speed up the process for a new metrolink line running through the media city towards the Trafford Centre.

Wendy Anderson, Halifax (19/12/2006 at 02:59)

Yeah - great - the North West is a great place for national institutions like the Beeb - it's pretty central geographically for loads of places in the British Isles, so why not? Plus we've got great people. I say "we", 'cos although I live in Halifax, I originate from Wigan (God's own country and home to the world's best pies and pie-eaters), so yes - bring it on. The North West is also the heart of England.

Gregory Happy, Manchester (19/12/2006 at 06:50)

Why should the license fee payer foot the bill for BBC relocation

Cathy Connett, Irlams o'th' Height, Salford (19/12/2006 at 08:34)

I do hope when The Beeb move to Salford it will allow for talented Salford people to gain employment there. Or will they be re-deploying all their existing staff?
Also, it is vital that the public transport system is improved, and not just Metrolink - I mean the buses too - to enable all Salford people to reach Salford Quays effortlessly - without having to hire a taxi.

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (19/12/2006 at 09:47)

I hear a rise in the licence fee HAS to fund this, but WHY? The BBC's profile is higher than it's earning power, why does it have to eke more money from licence payers to do this? I personally would REFUSE to allow a rise to fund this move. The Beeb gets enough money as it is, why is it allowed to ask licence payers to fund it's move to Salford?

Mike Davies, Bury (19/12/2006 at 10:02)

I'm in favour of it, simply because it will annoy snobby BBC staff who have to move. Don't kid yourself, they all hate the provinces.

Can't Smile Wide Enough, East Manchester (19/12/2006 at 10:03)

Gregory Happy, aka Ozblue: It's primarily because the present location of the BBC is too centralised in expensive London, and licence-payer money should be circulated not only in the south, but also in your favourite city: Manchester. The one you can't stop talking about!

Carl, Eccles (19/12/2006 at 11:28)

It is important that the BBC moves to Salford. It will mean more jobs and investment, and create a world class broadcasting centre which will benefit the whole region. Hazel Blears should be congratulated for her campaign to bring the BBC to Salford.

Ace Riley, Manchester (19/12/2006 at 14:41)

I think we are all being conned by the bbc? i think that the bbc has outgrown its buildings in the csouth ? so they use the excuse of moving to the north only to get bigger grants and a rise in licence fees? and to boot get new buildings plus get a mega fortune for the old property for developers?? If you look at it from this point of view the BBC is in the win win position all the way along .and the added bonus is they get a cheaper workforce ??Let them stay where they are or if the really want to move north let them pay their own way without upping the licence even more????Dont get caught up in the great BBC hype .

Phil, Manc (19/12/2006 at 15:05)

The BBC is owned by the public though, Ace. If they win, we win. If they save money, they get to put more into new program for us to watch.

Tony, Salford (19/12/2006 at 17:09)

Ill believe it when I see it.

I ve got it on VERY good authority indeed that NOTHING is finalised WHATSOEVER!!

It would be a great thing of course and raise the profile of Salford in the public eye.

But, do we want those Cockney Moaning muppets crowding our streets even further?! :)

Ace Riley, Manchester (19/12/2006 at 17:46)

Phil, Manc if we own the BBC and they save money by moving north and you like what the BBC call programs why dont they drop the price of the licence and keep the programs as they are?? after all like you have said ""we own the bbc"" ???If the bbc make more profit do we also get more money taken off the licence?? You can bet we dont "youve been conned like the rest"The government put this about that we own the BBC???like we owned british aerospace??that was a laugh as well?????????????????

Steven, Manchester (20/12/2006 at 09:00)

Most of those "moaning southern muppets" are probably northerners who only moved down sarf in the first place because that's where (virtually) all the broadcast jobs currently are.

Oh, and the plans i've seen as laid out by mediacity:uk include both extensions to the tram service on the Eccles line AND a new main road connecting to the M602 at J2.

P.S. The BBC are not actually going to build this mediacity themselves, it is actually a joint project between Salford Council and Peel Holdings with the BBC being the first/biggest/flagship tenant.

Simon, S.E. London (20/12/2006 at 12:35)

Reading these comments, it seems to be that the Northerners don't want us up there. I must say that I can verify that these sentiments are true. For some reason, Northerners have a serious problem with us.
I vote that the BBC keeps most of it's departments in London where they are easily accessible for everybody (all roads, rails and most Air Routes lead to London afterall) but moves just one department up north as a trial to see if it works. I am not saying it won't but if anything is to be said, isn't the north getting too much funding recently?
It seems that this government is determined to take things away from London in a biased fashion.

Ace Riley, Manchester (20/12/2006 at 13:31)

Phil, Manc well i think the people who own the BBC in your words have shot themselves in the foot this morning mate "We the so called owners of the BBC are sending our jobs abroad to india" What nice people we are we own the company but send all our jobs to other countrys "INDIA" well in your words mate ""WE OWN THE BBC" What idiots we are if thats the truth ???? You have been well and truly brainwashed my friend??????

Ace Riley, Manchester (20/12/2006 at 16:55)

Tessa Jowell if you read this ive just had a thought after reading todays paper about the BBC sending its call centre jobs to india?.Why dosnt the BBC send all its jobs to india then you could give them over seas aid mabe then we will be able to get a cheaper licence fee??? Labour the future working for us???? What a joke this government has been .its helped everybody exept the people who matter"""US"""The voters.

markyboy, manchester (20/12/2006 at 19:45)

if the bbc are short of cash, how abiut trimming its wages bill first, it is the firsy rule of business, not sticking its grubby mits out for more.

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