Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> Make TVC a Listed Building? http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1193413951 Message started by Richard Taylor on Oct 26^th, 2007, 3:53pm

Title: Make TVC a Listed Building?
Post by Richard Taylor on Oct 26^th, 2007, 3:53pm

There are reasons for not listing TVC, but for those who think it a good idea to have it listed :

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bbctvcentre/

Title: Re: Make TVC a Listed Building?
Post by Richard Taylor on Feb 28^th, 2008, 4:19pm

Just got an email from No.10 email petitions website.

There were 1,701 signatures and the government response is :

"English Heritage are the Government's statutory advisers on listing matters, and they are currently in the process of formulating their advice in connection with the possible listing of BBC Television Centre. Their recommendation will be forwarded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for consideration in due course"

Title: Re: Make TVC a Listed Building?
Post by Forum Admin on Mar 5^th, 2008, 9:49pm

This is taken from The Guardian:

BBC TV Centre sale looks unlikely
by Tara Conlan Wednesday March 5 2008

The BBC's west London home, the iconic Television Centre site, may not be sold off after all, under plans being considered by corporation executives.

The proposal comes as the BBC reviews the future of its production business following lower-than-expected bids for TV Centre's studios.

The sale of the TV Centre site, the 1960s complex on Wood Lane that has come to personify the BBC, has been on the cards for more than a year.

TV Centre's studios were due to be disposed of as part of the sale of BBC Resources, the corporation's commercial subsidiary responsible for outside broadcast, studios and post-production businesses.

The overall sale of the TV Centre site is not part of the sale of BBC Resources, but is one of the corporation's proposals as it seeks to cut costs and rationalise its property portfolio.

However, MediaGuardian.co.uk understands that internal BBC discussions are now focusing on keeping TV Centre and its studios, while selling off the rest of BBC Resources. One source said: "It is looking increasingly likely that TV Centre will not be sold."

It is thought that the future commercial value of the land in Shepherd's Bush, west London, outweighs selling off TV Centre. Insiders said the bids for BBC Resources have been lower than expected.

The studios at Television Centre employ around 350 staff, out of the 1,100 working for BBC Resources. It is likely those 350 workers would stay with the BBC.

It is not yet clear what the corporation would do with the Television Centre site as it does not feature in its property plans for the future and nor is it a listed building.

TV Centre is very much at the heart of the BBC's broadcasting and production operation, home to the controllers of BBC1 and BBC2, network TV and radio news including BBC Radio Five Live and BBC News 24, and many London TV production staff.

Staff currently based at TV Centre are due to be relocated either at the Media Centre just down the road on Wood Lane, in the new Media City complex in Salford, or at the central London Broadcasting House, which is being refurbished.

Due to asbestos, parts of Television Centre, or the whole building, are likely to have to be knocked down within the next four years.

However, the BBC could sell off or lease part of the valuable Television Centre site to other businesses.

The BBC had originally planned to sell BBC Resources to one buyer but has subsequently pursued a strategy of selling the business to more than one bidder, which has proved more tricky.

One of the major sticking points is the pension liability of BBC Resources staff, with many opposing the sale because it could cost their pension funds thousands of pounds in penalties.

Union representatives are due to meet the BBC today for an update on the BBC Resources sale.

A BBC spokeswoman said no decision has yet been made about the sale.

"This is just speculation. The final outcome has not yet been reached," she added.