The departure of the BBC from Television Centre has paved the way for the iconic building to be converted into hundreds of luxury flats. That is not the full programme of events for the site though, as ‘Auntie’ will be staying in some guise.
The BBC left the 14-acre site in a £200m deal which saw the bulk of operations move to Salford. However, the corporation will be moving back as early as 2015 when its commercial arm, BBC Studios and Post Production, will be in residence.
The famous Studio One will be upgraded and retained as part of the scheme, whilst new production offices will also be created.
Much of the site will come under the control of Hammersmith & Fulham though, and is set to benefit from a multi-million pound regeneration fund. The landmark forecourt will be publicly accessible for the first time for example, while much of the present office space in the main ‘doughnut’ part of the building will transform into prime flats to rent in London.
The wider plans for the development will see cafes and restaurants, and other leisure facilities created in the newly appointed public spaces.
In total, the site will ignite the creation of around 1,000 new homes and improve amenities and infrastructure for the local community.
There is no firm agenda or time scale for the works, with consultations still ongoing. However, with a swell of new properties guaranteed, it is sure to provide a fantastic window of opportunity for a landlord or investor to expand their portfolio of luxury properties.
