BBC North gets keys to Mediacity

In pictures: Inside BBC North

A ceremony marking the handover of the BBC's new northern base, the MediaCity complex at Salford Quays, has taken place.

BBC officials were given the keys to building C, the new headquarters of BBC North, from site owner Peel Media.

It will allow the corporation to fit out the building with television and radio broadcasting facilities.

About 2,500 jobs from five departments are moving to Salford Quays in 2011 from their current London home.

Staff tours

BBC North chief Peter Salmon and Sir Michael Lyons, chairman of the BBC Trust, were among those attending.

Peter Salmon said: "It's the first of the big milestones, taking the first building where regional news, Radio 5 Live, sport and national news will all be based, it's fantastic.

"We're also taking it ahead of schedule and on budget, so in terms of the management effort it's really positive."

A short handover ceremony, involving Peel Media and the construction team, took place at lunchtime.

Peel Media, a division of the Peel group, is investing £500m in MediaCity, which is spread over 36 acres of land alongside the Manchester Ship Canal.

The BBC will be the main tenant, with five departments moving from the capital, including Radio 5 Live, BBC Sport and Children's.

The BBC's current base in Manchester's Oxford Road will close and staff will transfer to the new site.

Council pride

Hundreds of BBC staff from Oxford Road and across the north of England were given tours of the building on Tuesday.

Salford University will also be moving more than 700 students and staff to a new higher education campus at MediaCity.

Salford City Council Leader John Merry said: "This is not just a milestone for MediaCityUK, it is a milestone for Salford. What is happening today is a vision made real.

"It it has been more than three years since the city council first told the BBC that MediaCity could be their home in the north and I am so proud of what has happened since."

He added that more than 200 of the workforce were from Salford, the construction phase had generated around £87m for local businesses and more than 15,000 creative industry jobs could be generated.

"The Quays were the engine of Salford's industrial and commercial past and this transformation will make them the digital heart of its future," Mr Merry said.

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