MediaCityUK

The country's first media city is coming to life this year at Salford Quays.

MediaCityUK has been designed to provide a purpose-built home for creative and digital businesses. The first phase, spread over 36 acres, was completed in 2011 but there is the potential to use up to 200 acres of land over the next decade.

Phase one includes:

• 70,000 square feet of offices (including space for the BBC, ITV and University of Salford)
• 250,000 square feet of high definition studios (including the largest high definition studio in Europe and one dedicated to the BBC Philharmonic)
• Public park and events space - twice the size of Trafalgar Square!
• 378 new apartments
• 218 bed Holiday Inn
• Booths supermarket
• WH Smiths, Costa coffee, Wagamamas, Red House and Prezzo restaurants
• 2,200 space car park

BBC

The BBC have started to move around 2,500 staff to MediaCityUK, which will involve relocating five London-based departments, along with all local and network broadcasting currently operating out of Manchester city centre. It was recently announced that 1000 more jobs, plus all of BBC Three will also be moving to Salford bringing the total number of employees at BBC North to 3,500. Broadcasts have already begun from the site including Blue Peter, Newsround, Match of the Day and Football Focus.

Find out more at the official BBC North website.

ITV

ITV recently announced that their Manchester-based operations, including Coronation Street and ITV Granada regional news team, will be moving to MediaCityUK in 2012.

University of Salford

The University of Salford also has a presence at MediaCityUK, with a brand new campus for more than 1500 students and staff. Specialist courses, designed in conjunction with the BBC, will equip students with the skills to help them access job opportunities on site. The new campus opened for its first year on 4 October 2011.

Production and studios

MediaCityUK will also house one of the largest high definition studio facilities in Europe, featuring seven high definition television studios and two audio studios (one dedicated to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra). The neighbouring Pie Factory is already a successful TV and commercial production site - recent productions include The Street, The Royle Family Christmas special and Paradox.

Destination

Centred around a waterfront public realm area twice the size of London's Trafalgar Square, MediaCityUK is a destination in its own right, complete with bars, cafés and restaurants. The development's piazza has been designed to accommodate over 5,000 people, making it a natural focal point both day and night. Last year the piazza and studios hosted major events as part of the 2011 Manchester International Festival.

How is Salford City Council involved in MediaCityUK?

Salford City Council is fully supportive of the development of MediaCityUK. We see it as a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference for our communities and to create tangible opportunities for our residents. Salford City Council has been involved in the development of the site and its transport infrastructure from the very beginning to create an accessible investor, visitor and employee destination. In addition, we are using this exciting development as a catalyst to raise the profile of Salford, to raise aspirations and to create job opportunities for local residents.

MediaCityUK is being developed and managed by Peel Media, a division of the Peel Group.

This page was last updated on 4 January 2012