The BBC at mediacity:uk, Salford Quays

A major part of the BBC's vision for the future is the creation of a major new BBC centre in the North, as part of the mediacity:uk development at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester.

mediacity:uk will be the new home of five London-based BBC departments, including two television channels and two national radio networks: BBC Children's (including CBBC and CBeebies television and radio); BBC Formal Learning; parts of BBC Future Media & Technology; BBC Radio 5 Live (including 5 Live Sports Extra); and BBC Sport.

Staff currently working in local and regional programming and network production at the BBC in Manchester will also be located at the new site, bringing the total of BBC staff working in the new centre to around 2,300.

mediacity:uk, developed by a consortium comprising the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Peel Holdings, Salford City Council and the Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, is the UK's first purpose-built media city and will cover 200 acres of former dockland at Salford Quays.

The aim is to bring together a variety of independent producers, facilities providers and other broadcasters alongside the BBC, thus making a real impact on the local community and regional economy.

The creation of the BBC's new centre in the North was given final approval by the BBC Trust on 31 May 2007. It will complete by 2011.