There's plenty of talk about Peel's MediaCityUK at the moment, especially surrounding ITV, which is currently based in central Manchester but is talking to Peel about a potential move (EGi subscribers can read about the talks here).
In
the wake of EG's Manchester Focus reception on Wednesday evening, I
made the trip to Salford Quays yesterday to see for myself how the
scheme is coming along.
The view from many in Manchester is that Peel needs to bag ITV in order to bring a second major media anchor to the scheme, and prevent it from simply becoming known as the BBC's home in The North.
With ITV recently appointing former FA and Royal Mail man Adam Crozier as chief executive and Archie Norman as chairman, most are hopeful that the broadcaster's long-mooted move to Salford Quays, taking with it the famed cobbles of Coronation Street, will happen.
That said, the view of Media City from across the Manchester Ship Canal is already pretty impressive. Click on the slide-show below to see the photographic evidence.
Talk of ITV aside, progress at the site is as follows:
- The BBC's first building, which is 155,000 sq ft, is up and being fitted out right now to house Radio Five Live, regional TV and local radio and BBC Sport. Two more BBC buildings, A and B, will complete by the end of March.
- The University of Salford's building is on site and will be ready for students in September 2011.
- The studios are also on site for completion by the end of the year. They will comprise seven HD TV studios, including Europe's largest at 12,500 sq ft, plus a home for the BBC's Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Two residential buildings are on site, which I'm told are 36% sold.
- The 5-acre piazza is also being created, with the site's Metrolink tram stop now finished.
Progress is being made, but local property people are eager to see further high profile media lettings to ensure that MediaCity becomes the creative hub that Peel says it will.
You've missed out the two towers that rise from the studio block in your progress update, the hotel and office/media enterprise centre. The Salford University building is also part office.