Planning approved for new BBC building

planning-bbc-approved

Rhi Storer - Local Democracy Reporter | Friday 17th March 2023 9:03am

A new state-of-the-art headquarters for BBC Midlands has been given the green light by councillors at Birmingham city council’s planning committee.

Councillors unanimously approved on Thursday (March 16) building works to commence at ‘The Tea Factory’ – the new home for BBC Midlands Today, BBC Radio WM, The Archers, BBC Radio One’s Newsbeat and BBC Asian Network.

The landmark project will see a huge ten-acre plot of underutilised land around Typhoo Wharf, and the surrounding canal basin transformed. Developers say the new building  “will be instantly recognisable to everyone who travels into Birmingham on HS2, the tram or into our existing railway stations.”

Last summer, the BBC announced plans to move out its current home at The Mailbox and into new premises built at the former Typhoo Tea factory. The repurposed factory falls in place with wider regeneration in Digbeth, the Typhoo Wharf, as part of a growing reputation as a centre for media production.

It follows planning approval in January for a new studio to host flagship BBC cookery programme MasterChef.

The planning report indicates that, while no homes have been listed within the application, the redevelopment of the former factory as part of Typhoo Wharf will compliment the HS2 wider masterplan as “an opportunity to deliver a distinctive business, retail, residential and leisure development within refurbished and new buildings around a publicly accessible canal basin”.

Councillor Lee Marsham, who sits on the planning committee, said: “As a childhood Typhoo Tea drinker, I'm pleased to see this site being bought back into use and respecting our industrial heritage.

“For too long the BBC has not represented our city well enough so this is a welcomed development and shows the confidence in Birmingham as a place to invest following the success of the Commonwealth Games and arrival of HS2. If BBC staff don’t want to relocate from London, there are plenty of Brummies with the skills required to do the jobs.”

Stuart Thomas, BBC Head of Midlands says: “This is a crucial and exciting step on the road to the BBC moving into the Tea Factory in 2026. Having a new home for the BBC in Birmingham is all part of our commitment to do more in the Midlands, and breathing life into this wonderful factory will help turbo charge the whole of Digbeth into the city's creative heart.”

Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said the development represents the first phase of a wider masterplan for the surrounding area.

“Our hard work over the past couple of years has built up to this and we are excited to be given the go ahead to begin transforming and reusing the building,” he said.

“We've been working closely with the BBC to ensure we not only keep the historic legacy of the almost 100-year-old factory but also deliver a pioneering scheme using low carbon principles. We are looking forward to breathing new life into it.”

Ian Ward, Birmingham city council leader, said: “The new BBC HQ at The Tea Factory represents a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham and our creative sector, so I’m delighted the project has now been granted planning permission.

“Our vision for Digbeth is to build on established creative businesses, attracting and encouraging new ones, and the BBC move added to the coming of HS2, the Midland Metro extension and the Masterchef move will help us attract further investment.

“Birmingham is a city of untapped talent and the BBC's investment will help that talent flourish and grow, as we create new jobs and opportunities for our citizens.”

The former Typhoo tea factory is mostly three and four storeys in height and was built in several phases between 1929 and the 1960s. No objections were received, but one representation was received by Birmingham city council to include 20 swift boxes to improve wildlife diversity in the area.

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