BBC to leave Bridge House in MediaCity
Citing the rise of hybrid working and net zero commitments, the media broadcaster said it would leave the 100,000 sq ft Salford building by spring 2024.
While announcing the departure from MediaCity’s Bridge House, the BBC also said it would vacate Wogan House in London.
Bridge House was the base for BBC Children’s and Education, as well as parts of BBC Sport and the company’s operations team.
Staff at Bridge House will relocate to one of the other BBC buildings at MediaCity: Quay House or Dock House.
A press release concerning the decision stated: “A reduction in the size of the estate will help deliver the BBC’s net zero commitments as a smaller property footprint will lead to a reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions.
“It also complements the adoption of hybrid working which has resulted in changes to how we use our buildings,” the press release continued.
Reducing its estate is not new for BBC, which left the Broadcast Centre in London’s White City complex last year.
Reacting to the news, MediaCity managing director Stephen Wild said: “Over the years the BBC has grown its commitment to MediaCity and is continuing to do so, however, we recognise that our occupiers are adapting their ways of working and, as such, we have responded with the expansion of our flexible workspace Arrive.
“Likewise, we’ll work with our partners at the BBC in streamlining their floor space at MediaCity,” Wild continued. “Working and operating from a sustainable environment is a priority and our occupiers benefit from MediaCity being one of the most highly sustainable destinations in the UK.”
MediaCity is owned by Landsec and Peel L&P, the former of which has a 75% stake in the 37-acre property that it acquired last year.
Earlier this year, Peel L&P and Landsec secured planning permission for a 312,000 sq ft office at MediaCity.
While watching the BBC rolling news programmes, from Portland Place, London ,in the daytime you can see many empty desks, surely the BBC cant`t justify using such a large space for too much longer.
By Anonymous
How is it MediaCity if BBC are phasing out and Channel 4 said no?!
By Verticality
Cost savings more like
By Anonymous
An awful lot of ex license holders helping with this. I suspect that’s the real reason the BBC are downsizing.
By Anonymous
Well that lasted long. Pebble Mill MKII.
By Jeff
Working from home? Can’t be bad.
By Taxvampire
@Verticality maybe because there are 100s of production and Tech companies based there making it the biggest media eco system outside of London by a long way. The dock 10 building on its own produces a huge amount of national programs
By Bob
Goodness me , i believe ITV will be following soon unfortunately
By Anonymous
What a legacy for Terry Wogan!!
By Levelling Up Manager
What will happen to the BBC Philharmonic studio there ?
By Rodders
Because it is not just the BBC there – there are other digital and creative media organisations and independents at Media City – so think they can still safely call it Media City
By Bob Dawson
What’s gonna happen to North West Tonight @6pm people wont know what will be happening in Manchester and only Manchester anymore
By Anonymous
A shame but as mentioned by Bob there are other potential tenants that will hopefully fill the space instead further down the line.
By Anonymous
Why as the BBC come all the way to Salford and leave London to vacate one of the sites in Salford
By Wayne tomlinson
Net zero is used as a pathetic excuse for cut backs. Stop the greenwash and be honest.
By Anonymous
The move has been a disaster
By Cal
Absolutely gutted, thought they were leaving for good.
By Anonymous
What move has been a disaster?
By Anonymous
Why Cal ? leaving one of several buildings while also leaving one in London is hardly a disaster. Its cost saving. The BBC like them or loathe them have also attracted many jobs in the form of production, engineering not to say higher education and media. By whose standards is that a disaster or is it rather a case of you making unsubstantiated claims and being called out on it yet again?
By Anonymous
And the levelling up continues
By Steve
Think PlaceNorthwest are misleading it’s readership by implying the BBC are uprooting Salford lock, stock, and two smoking barrels 😡👎🏻
By Rodders
Hi Rodders! Thanks for your comment. We never want to mislead our readers, which is why the headline very clearly states “Bridge House” and the first line refers to a specific building. The story also describes how the BBC will be relocating staff to two other buildings it uses in Salford. Best – Julia
By Julia Hatmaker
Ha ha, some people just don’t read the article! I wonder why?…a little jealously that media city ended up where it did? Never mind there’s always ITV. Oh hang on they’re here as well. I find it delightful that the Manchester ship canal was dug to bring jobs directly into the Manchester docks and here is Media city right at the end of that very canal doing exactly the same today. Very inspiring!
By Sam
The BBC is a very bloated organisation in need of significant slimming and trimming, so I personally welcome this news.
By Digbuth O'Hooligan
Kill the TV licence. BBC are a waste of space. Get rid already
By Black Mancunian
Yes the late sir Terry wogan was a legend
Rip sir tel
By Darren Williams
come to liverpool
By Anonymous
The BBC has done a lot for Mcr, providing thousands of well paid jobs and benefitted the local economy, boosting the housing and property market as staff re-located from the South or elsewhere, massively raised the profile of Mcr and Salford, supported lots of local concerts , events and cultural venues.
So just just because the Beeb want move their local offices and shuffle the scenery round a bit that`s no real reason for negativity.
By Anonymous
Looks like media city is actually growing despite the BBC going from three office buildings to two. The area will continue to develop and I hope it does because I live near Exchange Quay .Having said that I’ve Cancelled my license though. Like many I’ve no interest in any of the programs they make anymore. An out of touch and out of date organisation these days.
By Anonymous
Surely they still have a lease commitment there?
By Anonymous
Keep citing the London move and it doesn’t sound so bad. This IS the future.
By Eric
Chill out guys, they’re only leaving 1 building there to save money, they still have 2 more on the quays!
By Anonymous