BBC unveils plans for development of Television Centre site

Following last year’s sale of its iconic Grade II listed West London Television Centre to developer Stanhope, the BBC has announced details of the future direction of the 14 acre site. The announcement comes as the BBC continues its programme of relocating staff and functions to Media City in Salford and the new Broadcasting House in Central London. Work will start in 2015 on a mixed use development which will include residual office and studio space for the BBC, offices, hotels, leisure facilities, some 1,000 new homes, parks and a hotel. However the listed buildings on the site, originally opened in 1960, will be retained.

Announcing the development Stanhope chief executive David Camp said: “We will be introducing a vibrant and exciting mix of new retail, leisure, office and residential uses while keeping and enhancing the famous original BBC buildings and retaining key operational BBC studio and office facilities on site. Television Centre will be a great place to live, work and visit.”

The masterplan, drawn up by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, will incorporate:

• a refit of the studios as state-of-the-art studio space for the BBC;

• the creation of a new HQ for BBC Worldwide on a building fronting Wood Lane;

• a transformation of the inner ring of the listed Television Centre ‘doughnut’ into a hotel and homes;

• the refurbishment of the stage 4 and 5 buildings as speculative office space targetted at new media and creative businesses;

• the replacement of the drama block, restaurant block and multi-storey car park on Wood Lane with new residential buildings and townhouses;• replace the East Tower with a more slender and appropriately positioned residential building; and

• the creation of a village green of family town houses to the south of the site.

Work will start on the new development when the BBC’s current lease runs out in 2015.