FAQs.

MediaCityUK is owned and is managed by The Peel Group, one of the UK’s leading infrastructure, real estate and investment enterprises.

The BBC announced in 2004 that it was searching for a new northern home. Along with four other potential sites, Salford Quays was shortlisted by the corporation in 2005. By January 2006, it was confirmed that Salford Quays would be the chosen location for BBC North. 

The Peel Group has invested approximately £650 million into phase one of MediaCityUK, which has involved the transformation of what was once one of Britain’s busiest docks. 

Over 2,000 people were involved in the construction of MediaCityUK, with more than 7.3 million man hours spent on site. 

Public sector bodies such as the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Salford City Council and the Salford Urban Regeneration Company have worked alongside The Peel Group to ensure MediaCityUK becomes a thriving visitor destination. With their help, we’ve worked towards creating a viable transport infrastructure, implementing career and apprenticeship schemes and strengthening connections with the local community.

Phase one is spread over 36 acres, with the potential to develop up to 200 acres over the coming years.

This includes:

• 780,870 sq ft of commercial office accommodation spread across 6 buildings
• 60,000 sq ft of retail 
• 250,000 sq ft studio complex
• 378 apartments across two buildings
• 218 bed Holiday Inn hotel
• 2,300 space multi storey car park
• 5-acre piazza, including a hard standing area for events
• The Greenhouse (office accommodation)
• The Pie Factory (sound stages and office accommodation)
   

MediaCityUK is a long-term development, with the potential to develop up to 200 acres in the future.  There isn’t a rigid timetable for Phase Two so expansion will be dependent on demand. 

The Peel Group is one of the leading infrastructure, real estate and investment enterprises in the UK.  The Group’s diverse network of businesses ranges from ports to airports; land to leisure; media to hotels; wind farms to shopping centres, and a portfolio of investments in major public companies.  

The BBC has started its move to MediaCityUK and by spring 2012 more than 2,300 BBC staff will be working out of BBC North. The BBC is leasing three buildings here at MediaCityUK – Bridge House, Dock House and Quay House.

BBC Breakfast, Children’s, Sport, Radio 5 Live, Learning, and Future Media and Technology are all relocating – bringing some of the BBC’s most famous shows, like Match of the Day and Blue Peter to MediaCityUK.

The BBC’s current Manchester city centre operations are also moving to Salford, meaning output such as Dragon’s Den, File on 4, Radcliffe and Maconie, Songs of Praise, Question of Sport, and local and regional services will be produced at MediaCityUK.

A number of business support functions including marketing, training and HR will be working for BBC North here at MediaCityUK.

If you want to find out about BBC North then visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/bbcnorth/

ITV Granada is moving to MediaCityUK in 2012.  A new production centre for Coronation Street is being built on Trafford Wharf, next to Imperial War Museum North.  Dedicated offices have also been earmarked within MediaCityUK’s Orange Tower, to house ITV Studios’ production and management teams, ITV regional news, along with support staff across the business.   

No, the university has created a new higher education centre at MediaCityUK, designed to accommodate 1,700 students and staff and offering 40 courses from journalism, animation and TV documentary-making, to technology-based programmes.  Facilities include:  TV and radio studios; digital media and performance labs; post production suites and a living lab research facility.

SIS, a world leader in the broadcasting industry, is relocating its London-based production and engineering operations to MediaCityUK. The Peel Group and SIS have formed a partnership to manage The Studios at MediaCityUK, along with post production, content and technical services.  

Led by Salford City Council, the MEC will enable individuals and businesses to utilise a range of resources, including: flexible office space; specialist training facilities and advice from sector development agencies, including Vision and Media.  The MEC will also enable community groups to learn new skills and create media content.

To date over 50 small creative companies have made their home here. Based in The Greenhouse and The Pie Factory, they include casting, lighting, camera hire, PR and digital media. Take a look through our occupiers database to find out who is here.

We have a number of options for those wanting to take space at MediaCityUK – ranging from the White, Blue and Orange Towers, to The Greenhouse and The Pie Factory.  Depending on whether you’re a freelancer, a small creative company or a large corporate, we can find the most suitable accommodation for you.  Please email property@mediacityuk.co.uk for further details 

To suit the varying nature of the creative industries, we do offer flexible and short-term leases in both The Greenhouse and The Pie Factory.

• A shared media infrastructure for maximum flexibility
• Purpose-built, de-risking technology decisions
• Proximity to content commissioners
• Flexible commercial office space
• Bespoke services: fully managed or plug and play
• Magnet for top talent

We have built a new studio complex, The Studios, which is among the largest high definition facilities in Europe, operated in partnership with SIS.  The Studios features seven HD television studios – the largest is 12,500 sq ft, the smallest 900 sq ft.  There are two audio studios (one dedicated to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra).  The facilities include: sound and vision control rooms; CTA; ten fast turnaround edit suites; a dubbing theatre; ingest area; dressing rooms; workshops and green rooms. The facilities are underpinned by our site-wide communications infrastructure. 

TV and commercial production has been taking place at The Pie Factory, MediaCityUK, since 2007. Formerly a ‘Freshbake’ pie factory, it is now a production base, featuring three sound stages, and is also home to 26 ‘on the lot’ companies, offering services such as kit hire, casting and web design.      

The Studios, MediaCityUK are operated through a partnership with SIS. The Pie Factory is managed by Peel. 

No, The Studios, MediaCityUK are managed by Peel and SIS and have been purpose-built to accommodate some of the biggest programmes in broadcasting. The BBC has a commitment to use The Studios for a range of flagship programmes, but both The Pie Factory and The Studios are used by independent production companies.

Opened in January 2007, The Pie Factory is very much part of the MediaCityUK family. With three sound stages, make-up rooms, green rooms, flexible office space, workshop space, and 24/7 security The Pie Factory is a great alternative to our studio complex. It is also home to specialist 'on-the-lot' companies, from casting agencies to camera and lighting hire. Visit The Pie Factory website for information. 

Currently The Studios are not open to general public tours. The Studios, offices and apartments will be subject to the usual building security controls, but there is no gated perimeter and MediaCityUK’s park, piazza, bars and restaurants will be open to the public in the same way as any city centre.

The BBC in the North is offering tours of their buildings, which will include an opportunity to take a peek into some of the Studios they hire from us and make many of their flagship shows from.

Home to a host of BBC channels and programmes including favourites such as Match of the Day, Mastermind and Blue Peter, the tours will give visitors the chance to take a look behind the scenes and learn more about the world of broadcasting.
 
Visitors will gain an insight into the many programmes made by the BBC in Salford and the level of work it takes to get them from script to screen, and even get the chance to take part in their own very television production in the interactive studio.  
 
A special CBBC interactive tour is also available for children aged between 6 and 11 years old, giving kids the chance to learn about their favourite programmes and have a go at being a CBBC presenter.
 
Tours start from 31 March, for more information and to book visit: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

The Studios and The Pie Factory sound stages are available to hire. To book please contact: studiobookings@mediacityuk.co.uk or info@thepiefactory.co.uk

We have a host of programming now transmitted from The Studios, MediaCityUK, as well as a number of events taking place. We’ll keep you updated on how you can get involved on our website, but if you’re looking for tickets for a BBC show being made in our Studios then please visit their own dedicated audience page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tickets/

Work experience opportunities (when they become available), will be advertised the jobs section of this website.

MediaCityUK will be connected to one of the most advanced communications networks in the world, designed and managed by BT Business and delivered through 20 million metres of fibre.  The technical infrastructure includes:

• Privately-managed on-site fibre network to all buildings, designed to handle the large bandwidth demands of media businesses; future-proofed to manage the expansion in new media content
• Connectivity to global media and broadcast networks
• Site-wide wireless connectivity for both public and private networks
• Fastest residential broadband in the UK with high definition video services on demand
• Technology packages tailored to individual company needs, providing customer choice and flexibility 
   

Yes. There are 378 apartments in two towers at MediaCityUK – TheHeart and NumberOne.  Both feature studio, one, two and three bedroom accommodation, either for purchase or rent. The fastest residential broadband in the UK is available in the apartments, with a speed of up to 100mb.

Based at the heart of MediaCityUK, the two apartment buildings are only a stone’s throw from all the amenities and the new tram terminus, as well as being in close range of some of the Quays’ most popular attractions.  

Please contact residential manager Anita Jolley with your enquiries anita.jolley@mediacityuk.co.uk or call 0161 238 7404.

MediaCityUK is the first scheme in the world to become a BREEAM-approved sustainable community, by incorporating leading-edge design into the individual buildings and elsewhere across the campus.  Our tri-generation power plant helps to minimise CO2 emissions by centralising heating and cooling equipment for buildings including the Holiday Inn and The Studios.  It utilises water from the Manchester Ship Canal before returning it cleaner than before.

We already have a small number of retail outlets that are open for business, but as our city starts to become more populated, many more will follow.

These include:

• The Holiday Inn - Now open

• Costa Coffee – Now open

• Booths – Café and food store now open

• WHSmith – Opening late 2011

• Prezzo – Now open

• wagamama - Now open

If you want to find out about other places to eat and drink across the Quays and Manchester, then we recommend you take a look at the following sites:

www.visitmanchester.com
www.visitsalford.com
www.thequays.com

Yes, the Holiday Inn here at MediaCityUK is a brand new hotel offering 218 air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms, meeting facilities and private dining.

You can sample fine British cuisine at The Green Room Restaurant - the hotel's stylish restaurant on the mezzanine floor or meet at the Hub Bar, the perfect place for morning coffee, afternoon tea, lunch, bar snacks and that important after-work drink. You also have access to free high-speed wifi in the bar and restaurant area.
 

MediaCityUK is a destination in its own right, adding to the existing Salford Quays visitor offer, which includes The Lowry arts centre (Manchester’s most popular tourist attraction), Manchester United Football Club, Lancashire Cricket Club and Imperial War Museum North.

Atmosphere is central to the MediaCityUK ethos and that is why MediaCityUK’s key buildings are centred around a five-acre public area which gently shelves down to the canal side. Roughly twice the size of Trafalgar Square, this zone is split into two elements: The Stage a paved piazza directly in front of the studio block; and The Green a landscaped park containing a new tram terminus. The piazza has been designed to hold events for up to 6,000 people.
 

The Open Centre here at MediaCityUK is located at the front of The Studios and offers amazing views over the Piazza, Quays and across to Manchester United Football Club.

Accessible to the public, the split level area now houses Booths Café, while the mezzanine level will soon be available for hire for a variety of events.
 

As we entered 2011, MediaCityUK has already played host to a range of events such as, the Manchester International Festival, Rugby League World Cup Launch and the BBC Philharmonic Presents festival.

Over the coming years, we will play host to a diverse range of events in our piazza and Open Centre.

If you are interested in finding out more about holding an event in our Piazza and/or Open Centre then please email: events@mediacityuk.co.uk

Please go direct to the event organisers website, as we at MediaCityUK don’t provide or handle tickets for events taking place here.

Manchester is acknowledged as a leader in the creative and digital industries. It is home to the second largest cluster in Europe with more than 20,000 companies and nearly 150,000 employees.  The sector saw an 88.5% growth in productivity between 2002 and 2007 (source: NWDA). 

Students at the 18 universities within an hour’s drive of Manchester can choose from nearly 300 media-related courses and the area has 15,000 students studying computer science subjects.

We encourage those wanting to take images of the exterior buildings and public piazza to do so, but please be mindful of events taking place around the area you wish to photograph.

In the first instance please take a look at our image gallery and/or You Tube site. If you can’t find what you need then email: press@mediacityuk.co.uk

MediaCityUK is two minutes from the Greater Manchester motorway network, with a new link road direct to the M602.  A new bus route to the Quays has been introduced while the MediaCityUK tram stop  will double the current frequency of Metrolink services. There are also 300 cycle bays. Manchester Airport – a 20-minute drive away – offers the choice of more than 200 destinations worldwide.

The MediaCityUK multi-storey car park is now operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tariff                 Rate £
Up to 1 hour:     £2.00
Up to 5 hours:   £3.00
Up to 8 hours:   £5.00
Up to 9 hours:   £7.50
Up to 12 hours: £10.00
Up to 24 hours: £15.00

*Tariffs may be subject to change.

The entry is set at 1.9 metres.

Yes we have 17 disabled bays available.

Customers shopping at Booths here at MediaCityUK get the first hours parking FREE (up to the value of £1.80) when they spend £20 or more in store. This will be refunded at the till at point of purchase.

Please note: Customers parking in to the un-covered surface car park opposite Booths who fail to purchase a ticket will be be fined.

Metrolink is now running a full service to and from MediaCityUK. Trams are every six minutes via the Eccles line – either directly to MediaCityUK or the Broadway stop next to The Pie Factory.

Visit the GMPTE website for full list of tram times: http://www.metrolink.co.uk/tramtimes/results/
 

Peel Media (developers and owners of MediaCityUK) do not offer guided tours or facilitate school tours of the site - including our buildings The Studios or The Pie Factory. The buildings at MediaCityUK are now occupied and people are working in an open plan environment, which means that our ability to access these buildings is limited.

You are more than welcome to pop down to the site and wander around the external areas and into the Open Centre (front of The Studios).

The Studios, offices and apartments  are subject to the usual building security controls, but there is no gated perimeter and MediaCityUK’s park, piazza, bars and restaurants are open to the public in the same way as any city centre.

The BBC in the North is now offering tours of their buildings, which will include an opportunity to take a peek into some of the Studios they hire from us and make many of their flagship shows from.

Home to a host of BBC channels and programmes including favourites such as Match of the Day, Mastermind and Blue Peter, the tours will give visitors the chance to take a look behind the scenes and learn more about the world of broadcasting.
 
Visitors will gain an insight into the many programmes made by the BBC in Salford and the level of work it takes to get them from script to screen, and even get the chance to take part in their own very television production in the interactive studio.  
 
A special CBBC interactive tour is also available for children aged between 6 and 11 years old, giving kids the chance to learn about their favourite programmes and have a go at being a CBBC presenter.
 
Tours start from 31 March, for more information and to book visit: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

We, Peel are the company developing MediaCityUK and managing the day-to-day running of the site. We also manage and run The Studios, MediaCityUK in partnership with SIS.

We are a small team, so we don’t have a large number of staff positions. Those that we have will be advertised on this website. You can keep informed about the latest MediaCityUK developments – including announcements about businesses moving here – by signing up for our newsletter.

If you are interested in working for a company who will be based at MediaCityUK, such as the BBC or ITV, you should contact them directly.

Details of work experience placements with Peel will be posted on this site once they are available.