BBC North

BBC North will provide four key benefits:

• Creative Dividend: increasing the quality of all the BBC's content using the latest technology for the benefit of all audiences on all platforms
• Reputational Benefit: driving up approval for the BBC in the North of England
• Economic Benefits: creating a world-class talent pool in the North, strengthening and supporting the region's independent production and media companies and making a positive contribution to the regional and national economy
• Value for Money: making BBC North one of the BBC's most efficient and cost effective centres and demonstrating Value for Money to the licence fee payer

Since 2009, BBC North has invested in a series of initiatives including:

• @North: £500,000 investment in digital content for CBeebies and CBBC, working with five companies across the North of England. The companies awarded the commissions were Numiko (Leeds), Brass (Leeds), The Workshop (Sheffield), Amaze (Manchester) and Th_nk (Newcastle)
• Radio 5 live Kicker Fund: seven potential commissions from Northern radio independent production companies funded by a £40,000 creative Kicker Fund. As well as the new commissions covering news, drama and comedy, it has resulted in the creation of a new production company in Yorkshire, Pearl Works Productions. An additional £40,000 has been committed for 2011/2012
• BBC North Sport Kicker Fund: a £150,000 fund for new Inside Sport programmes specifically from Northern-based independent production companies
• Digital Fiction Factory: a partnership between BBC North and Conker Media that will be based at MediaCityUK and focus on creating contemporary digital fiction for drama, comedy and factual-fiction hybrids

And already the local community is beginning to see some tangible results of our presence in the area. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra continues its work with the Salford Family Orchestra, Doctor Who and BBC News School Report have worked with over 3,000 local school children.

Note - This is the cost that would have been incurred if departments had remained in their current London and Manchester bases and includes specifics such as technology upgrades, building maintenance etc.

The cost of the move to MediaCityUK is under £200m which includes the recent additions such as BBC Breakfast. This figure represents the cost of the transition project, relocation and redundancy packages for staff, and the installation of new technology.

We have committed to recouping the cost over twenty years and if possible will reduce the payback period significantly by fully occupying our more cost-effective buildings and introducing more efficient ways of working.

The National Audit Office report on BBC Estates quoted a figure of £877m. However, this covers the 20-year running costs of the five departments moving to Salford Quays and includes lease costs and ongoing operational and technology costs. If these departments remain in London their running costs will be higher. The costs of running Salford Quays are lower because there are significant savings in sharing studios, phasing out London Weighting, occupying energy-efficient buildings and selling existing properties. These savings will be invested in programme making.

BBC North is at MediaCityUK, the UK’s first purpose built Media City situated in Salford Quays around two miles from Manchester City Centre, on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. The BBC leases three buildings from the owners, Peel Media, which will be home to a diverse mix of talented people making BBC favourites, including Match of the Day, Blue Peter, Dragons’ Den, 5 live Drive and three hours a day of BBC One output by BBC Breakfast.

MediaCityUK is being developed and managed by Peel Media, a division of the Peel Group, one of the leading property and transport companies in the UK, with an asset value in excess of £6 billion. Peel Media’s investment in Phase 1 of MediaCityUK is in the region of £650million.

MediaCityUK Stage

Roughly twice the size of Trafalgar Square, the MediaCityUK Stage is an outdoor arena with enough room for around 5,000 people to attend events and enjoy content on a huge screen infront of the Studio Block. BBC North will use this space to showcase what we do in new and exciting ways.

MediaCityUK Park

The MediaCityUK Park will provide a green oasis away from the hustle and bustle – a relaxing waterside retreat to watch the world go by. The front of the Park is where the Metrolink will pull up to its brand new tram stop.

Tours

The BBC's home in the North of England is one of the most ambitious projects in the BBC's history. We're throwing open our doors, so you can take a peek behind the scenes. We are now home to a whole host of BBC channels and programmes including favourites such as Match Of The Day, Blue Peter, Dragons' Den, BBC Breakfast, Radio 5 Live and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, to name just a few.

There are two interactive tours on offer at MediaCityUK: the BBC Tour and the CBBC Children's tour. Click here to book.