I decided to take a trip up to the new BBC Media City on Salford Quays
in Manchester the other morning. It's quite some time since I was last
there and there has been some real progress. The 3 main buildings are
well under progress and there are currently 3 sound stages and
associated facilities up and running. Read more details on Demotix at http://www.demotix.com/news/bbc-media-city-salford-quays-manchester

"In 2007, the first foundations were sunk on the new Media City site in
Salford Quays in Manchester. The site on part of the old docks on the
Manchester Ship Canal opposite the new Lowry & Imperial War Museum
buildings is projected to be home to around 2,500 BBC staff by 2011
with anticipated employment for an additional 13,000 people in media
related industries. The BBC will be relocating BBC Sport, Learning,
Children's (including CBeebies), Radio 5 Live & Future Media &
Technology as well as all local and network broadcasting currently
housed in Manchester City Centre. The 200 acre site will consist of
three core towers designed by architects Wilkinson Eyre and will
eventually provide 700,000 sq ft of office space, 250,000 sq ft of
studios, 60,000 sq ft of retail and leisure, apartments, a hotel,
5-acre public piazza and an enhanced tram link doubling the current
capacity.
Currently in operation at the site, there are 3 sound stages and
accompanying facilites on the former "Freshbake" pie factory site
adjacent to the main site from which the BBC has produced a few shows.
There has been considerable discussion and deliberation about the
proposed relocation within the Beeb with many London based stuff
relucatant to make the move. The organisation have offered substantial
incentives to staff and several high profile names such as Nicky
Campbell and Simon Mayo have already publicly committed to moving North.
These images were taken of the site mid-development in April 2009. A Shot of the original site can be seen here.
There is also a streaming feed of the site here: www.mediacityuk.co.uk "