Chris Kane's interview with Property Week

I was interviewed recently by Mark Shepherd of Property Week about the move of parts of the BBC to MediaCityUK in Salford.

We talked about the thinking behind the move - how the BBC has a responsibility to serve all licence fee payers across the UK; what it means for the BBC and the staff involved; and what a positive vibe there is about the move in the North West. You can read the article in full when it's published on May 22nd.

Here is some information about the BBC at MediaCityUK:

• MediaCityUK is located on a 200-acre site at Salford Quays on Manchester's waterfront.
• The BBC buildings are leased from Peel Media, a division of the Peel Group. 
• Peel Media's vision is to make MediaCityUK the largest purpose-built media community in the UK and Europe. 
• The project is being developed and managed by Peel Media, working with a range of partners including Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Salford City Council and Northwest Vision and Media. 
• In addition to state-of-the-art TV studios and an unparalleled communications structure, the site will include a piazza twice the size of London's Trafalgar Square.
  

The first phase is due for completion in 2011, when the BBC will relocate five London-based departments (BBC Sport, BBC Children's, Radio 5 live, Future Media & Technology teams, Formal Learning) to The Quays, along with all local and network broadcasting currently based at Oxford Road in Manchester. 

These computer-generated images give you an idea of how MediaCityUK will look:

 A view across the piazza to the studio block

An interior of the studio block offices at MediaCityUK

A view of the Studio Entrances

Have you seen the MediaCityUK site at Salford Quays? What do you think about it or about the BBC's move there? Let me have your views.

Chris