City dangles carrot as Channel 4 faces move from London Birmingham is ‘prime location’ for broadcaster if it leaves capital
BIRMINGHAM has offered Channel 4 a prime location for new headquarters near the proposed landmark high speed rail station, as the Government considers ordering the broadcaster to move out of London.
It has emerged that Birmingham identified two potential locations for a new Channel 4 headquarters last year. And the proposals have been given a new lease of life after ministers launched a consultation on the broadcaster’s future.
Birmingham told the Government that Channel 4 could have a national base close to the Birmingham Curzon station, due to open in 2026 once HS2 high speed services come to the city.
An alternative headquarters by the HS2 Birmingham Interchange station in Solihull was also suggested.
Every Birmingham MP this week called for Channel 4 to come to the city, arguing it would provide a massive boost to the region’s creative industries, improve Birmingham’s standing in the world and benefit Channel 4, not least by saving the broadcaster huge sums on office costs.
But the broadcaster made it clear it did not want to move, even though the Government could order it to do so.
Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said it was not good enough that Channel 4 employs around 820 staff, but fewer than 30 of them are based outside central London.
Speaking at the Nations and Regions Media Conference in Salford, she said: “We will look at whether Channel 4 should relocate some or all its staff outside London, potentially including moving its headquarters.”
Ms Bradley admitted the Government and Channel 4 were “a long way apart”, in a reference to the broadcaster’s opposition to moving.
But she said the current was “unsustainable”.
A Whitehall source said: “She encourages potential new homes to come forward with ideas – and I would situation expect Brum to be among them.”
Potential sites for a new Channel 4 headquarters were identified last year by Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, the business-led body set up by the Government, and Marketing Birmingham, which is funded by Birmingham City Council and promotes the city.
The chairman of the Local Enterprise Partnership at the time was Andy Street, now Conservative candidate for mayor of Greater Birmingham in the May elections.
Mr Street said: “Clearly the obvious location would be around either one of the two HS2 stations – either at Interchange in Solihull or Curzon where the new HS2 station is intended to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Digbeth.
“If we were able to use these two opportunities together, we could go some way towards making what would be a huge boost to the region’s creative industries sector a reality.”
The other five mayoral candidates also back the move – but Channel 4 made it clear it wanted to stay in London.
A spokesman said: “The most important factor in supporting the nations and regions is where we spend our money rather than where Channel 4 is headquartered.
“A substantial relocation would be highly damaging to Channel 4’s business model and diminish our investment in the creative industries around the UK and our overall contribution to the UK economy.”
However, Birmingham MPs were keen to stress that coming to the city would offer the broadcaster many advantages.
MP Shabana Mahmood (Lab, Ladywood) said: “Channel 4 relocating to Birmingham would be a great deal both for the channel and our city.
“Channel 4 is aimed at a younger and more diverse audience compared to other broadcasters and we are the youngest city in Europe and have a super-diverse population, so we would be great fit. I hope everyone in Brum can get behind this campaign.
“The opportunity for jobs and the growth of our creative sector mean we have to do all we can to make this happen.”