Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> BBC plans for Whiteladies Road Bristol site? http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1663486854 Message started by simonm on Sep 18^th, 2022, 7:41am

Title: BBC plans for Whiteladies Road Bristol site?
Post by simonm on Sep 18^th, 2022, 7:41am

There is an auction of canteen equipment coming up shortly at BH Bristol. Apparently the canteen is closing.

Obviously there are many reasons this might be the case, for example a new canteen elsewhere on the site, a change of catering contractor, and so on, however the BBC has mentioned in the past an enthusiasm to quit the Whiteladies Road site altogether, in favour of more modern premises.

The Astec West business park, close to the M4/M5 interchange, was mantioned at one point as a preferred location, at least for regional news and associated activities (i.e. Points West and probably also Radio Bristol). The idea has merit, for example cutting the travel time for reporters (it's a long haul to the bottom of Somerset, or to Swindon).

But the BBC has been in the Whiteladies Road premises since the late 1920s, and the TV studio Points West is currently broadcast from was originally from that era (built as an art deco dance band and general audience studio). It is in parts at least ninety years old, so must be one of the oldest still in daily use.

So can anyone shed light on what the BBC is planning now? Is the move out of Clifton finally happening, and if so what will the BBC in Bristol eventually look like?