BBC Manchester HQ building put up for sale
- Published
The building is being sold as a "major mixed-use development opportunity"
The BBC's Manchester headquarters has been put up for sale as part of the corporation's move to Salford.
The BBC, which has occupied the site since 1976, has appointed property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) to look for potential buyers.
The sale of the 5.4 acre Oxford Road site has always been planned but marketing only began earlier this week.
About 2,300 staff, including 800 from Manchester, will move to the BBC's new northern base at Salford Quays in 2011.
The BBC said New Broadcasting House would be "surplus to requirements" once it took possession of the new premises at Mediacity.
Originally designed for radio and TV production, the building is being marketed as a "major mixed-use development opportunity".
Quays move
"The BBC has occupied the building since 1976 and is fully committed to strengthening its presence in the region," said Alan Bainbridge, Portfolio Director for BBC North.
"The move to Salford will add value for audiences across the UK, deliver economic benefits to the area and build a world-class media talent pool in the North West."
The building sits at the top of the southern gateway into Manchester city centre, near the city's universities.
A framework planning document for the site, developed in conjunction with Manchester City Council, suggests a range of commercial and residential uses.
The BBC's new home at Mediacity, owned by the Peel Group, is spread over 36 acres of land alongside the Manchester Ship Canal.
Departments moving to the site from London include Radio 5 live, BBC Sport, BBC Children's, the BBC Breakfast programme and parts of the corporation's marketing and technology teams.