Stanhope and the BBC have today launched their detailed plans to open up and transform Television Centre into a mixed use development including office and studio space for the BBC, complementary entertainment and leisure facilities, public open space, offices, housing and a hotel.
For the first time, Television Centre will be opened up to the public and the famous forecourt remodelled and enlivened by new retail, leisure and entertainment uses together with access through the site providing connectivity with the local area, including Hammersmith Park. The BBC will continue to have a significant presence at Television Centre: BBC Studios and Post Production will return in 2015 to operate three state-of-the-art studios to serve new television production in the South East in addition to our studios at Elstree, and provide new and enhanced facilities for BBC audiences, talent and production staff; and from 2014, BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial operation, will move into a public-facing corporate headquarters, following refurbishment of Stage 6.
The remaining office space will be aimed at occupiers in the creative sector providing new employment opportunities and there will be a variety of public uses, including a cinema, health club, restaurants and cafes, which will benefit the local community. The much-loved listed building at Television Centre will be retained. As part of opening up the site, the audience experience will be greatly enhanced, with new facilities - there are a number of emerging ideas about exactly what this audience experience might be, but nothing has yet been finalised. Stanhope and the BBC have established a joint venture company, TVC Developments Ltd, to deliver the project, to identify further BBC legacy opportunities going forward and to integrate the proposals into the wider White City Opportunity Area.
David Camp, chief executive of Stanhope Plc, said:
"Stanhope is working in partnership with the BBC to deliver a pubicly accessible mixed use remodelling of these iconic buildings and redevelopment of the adjoining land. The BBC will continue to have a significant presence at Television Centre and we will be bringing new life into the site with new public routes, spaces and uses. We will be introducing a vibrant and exciting mix of new retail, leisure, office and residential uses whilst keeping and enhancing the famous original BBC buildings and retaining keep operational BBC studios and office facilities on site. Television Centre will be a great place to live, work and visit."
Stanhope and the BBC will be holding a public exhibition on the plans at:
Reception BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, W12
24th April 2013 17.00-20.00
25th April 2013 14.00-20.00
27th April 2013 10.00-16.00
Source: Stanhope plc www.stanhopeplc.com 30.05.2013