Revised plans approved for development of iconic BBC Television Centre

New office space aimed at occupiers in the creative sector is included in Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan’s planned redevelopment of the former BBC Television Centre in west London. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham have granted planning permission for the revised plans for the mixed use development of the iconic building; to include the demolition of the existing Stage 4 and 5 office buildings and their replacement with a more sustainable and efficient new ten storey office building with improved facades, designed by architects AHMM. A change in use from residential to commercial has also been approved for a new nine storey office building fronting Hammersmith Park on the site of the old BBC restaurant block, with an overall increase in office accommodation across the site from 350,000 sq ft to 519,000 sq ft.

The development will retain many of the original features of the much loved listed buildings including the famous ‘doughnut’, atomic dot wall and Helios statue.  The mixed-use development will incorporate residential accommodation, a roof terrace and swimming pool for Soho House. At ground level there will be a mix of independent restaurants, shops and cafes. Construction is due to start in April 2015. Alistair Shaw, Stanhope’s Managing Director of Television Centre, said: “Over the last year, we have been working very constructively with Hammersmith and Fulham Council and the BBC to realise our vision for Television Centre as a new centre of gravity in west London. We will now be getting on with bringing forward an exciting development of these fantastic and much loved buildings and the creation of a great place to live, work and visit as part of the regeneration of the White City area.” The partnership with Soho House aims to deliver Stanhope’s vision for Television Centre as a new centre of gravity in west London. The famous forecourt will be remodelled and enlivened by new shops, leisure and entertainment uses including a cinema, gym, restaurants and cafes, which will benefit the local community. The site will be opened up to the public for the first time with access through to Hammersmith Park. The office space will be aimed at occupiers in the creative sector providing new employment opportunities and a media business hub. The BBC will return to Television Centre in 2017 to operate refurbished studios 1-3 through its commercial subsidiary BBC Studios and Post Production and BBC Worldwide will move into a new home at Television Centre early in the New Year, following refurbishment of the ‘Stage 6’ building.