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BBC’s Salford move shows that shifting major media operations north can work
The BBC’s MediaCity site in Salford now houses 3,500 BBC staff and 250 other creative and tech businesses, reflecting broader economic lift from relocating output.
Fifteen years after the BBC began moving a significant share of its operations to Salford, Greater Manchester, the move is widely viewed as having delivered a boost to the local economy through the creation of MediaCity, a 200-acre media and technology hub. The Guardian reports that MediaCity is now home to 3,500 BBC staff supporting major parts of the broadcaster’s output, including its World Cup coverage.
The story notes that the BBC’s relocation also helped attract 250 other creative and technology businesses to the area, suggesting the broadcaster’s presence acted as a catalyst for additional industry growth in Salford docks.
The Guardian links the BBC’s experience to Andy Burnham’s current political push for devolution, including his promise to create a “No 10 North” by moving part of his executive office to Manchester. It adds that the plan includes a dedicated department in the city to oversee related plans.
By recalling earlier skepticism from BBC figures and other entertainers at the time of the “Out of London” plan, the piece argues that concerns about relocating staff and talent north have not prevented the BBC’s operational shift from taking root.