Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

BBC is heading for the river

Nick Mathiason
Saturday 19 June 1999 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THE BBC is planning to move its entire television, radio and on- line news departments into a purpose-built building with River Thames frontage. The proposal comes just a year after the BBC controversially moved radio news journalists from Broadcasting House in central London into Studio Six - a state-of-the-art, multi-million-pound bi-media news centre five miles away at White City - at a cost of over pounds 20m.

The Independent on Sunday has learnt that the BBC is considering four sites in the capital for its 1,200 news journalists, choosing between Canary Wharf, two sites on the South Bank and one other. The corporation wants a building which contains an 80,000 sq ft floor akin to a "dealing room" where it can house its journalists.

A source close to the BBC blamed bad planning for the move. "When they decided to base news journalists at White City, its two digital news stations weren't up and running. Now that they are, Studio Six is far too small. The journalists hate it." Politicians and other contributors to programmes are also believed to have complained about the inconvenience of the location.

Gavin Allen, a journalist on Radio Four's PM programme, said: "This may be a fittingly muddled epitaph to John Birt's reign as director-general at the BBC, but a River Thames base does sound lovely."

It is understood that a cleared site between Tower Bridge and London Bridge is the favourite site. To be part of the London Bridge City complex, the 13-acre site is owned by CIT, an off-shore trust. It recently persuaded the Government to select its site to be the new home of the Greater London Assembly, due to open next year.

If the plan goes ahead, BBC World Service broadcasters would also move from their base at Bush House in the Aldwych, where the lease runs out in 2004, and the BBC's local London radio station, GLR, could move from its Marylebone base. A spokeswoman confirmed that the corporation is viewing sites. A decision is expected "later this summer".

If the BBC does opt for the South Bank of the Thames, it will confirm the area as a media centre. Carlton Television's London News Centre, London Weekend Television, Express newspapers and the Financial Times are already based there.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in