SalfordOnline

The proposals to develop mediacity:uk - a new broadcasting centre and the UK’s first purpose built media city - at a 200 acre site on Salford Quays has been given the go ahead by the Government and the BBC.

In the House of Commons Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State, Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced (on 18th January) the licence fee settlement for the BBC and gave the go-ahead for the establishment of a new media city in the North which will be home to at least five BBC departments, along with other broadcasters and creative companies.
The BBC Trust immediately responded to the Government’s licence fee commitments and announced that the move to Salford of five BBC departments would go ahead subject to contractual agreements which are expected to be reached by Easter 2007 between the BBC and the mediacity:uk consortium.
The BBC and the Government agree that the proposals to develop mediacity:uk represent value for money and that the move of major BBC departments to Salford Quays is affordable and in the interests of television licence fee payers and the UK as a whole.
Felicity Goodey, Chief Executive, mediacity:uk welcomed the announcements: “This is the news we have all been waiting for. The BBC has bought into a big vision for the future of Britain’s creative industries. This will change the lives of people in Salford, Manchester and the North of England.”
Salford City Council leader, Cllr John Merry said: "This is a great day for this city. The decision recognises that the move offers excellent value for money and is an incredible opportunity not just for the city, but for the whole country.”
Bryan Gray, Chairman, Northwest Regional Development Agency and Chair of the mediacity:uk steering group, said: “Today’s announcement is excellent news for both the North of England and for the UK. The confirmation that the BBC will bring together several departments in Salford as the anchor tenant for mediacity:uk and create the largest BBC presence outside of London is a massive boost for creative industries in the UK.”
John Whittaker, Chairman of Peel Holdings said: "We are delighted that the BBC have committed to move to mediacity:uk and join us in the creation of an internationally renowned media destination. Peel have a proven track record of producing the very highest quality developments and we now look forward to doing what we do best and delivering a world class media city that the North West and country can be proud of as well as generating thousands of jobs in one of the most creative industries of the future”.