Cities’ rival bids to be Channel 4’s northern HQ
SHEFFIELD AND LEEDS have submitted rival bids to be a new regional home for Channel 4.
The two cities have joined rivals including Birmingham and Manchester in the race to host parts of the broadcaster’s operations.
Sheffield wants to build a new digital technology centre next to the city’s railway station that could be a home to parts of Channel 4.
Coun Mazher Iqbal, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for business, said: “Establishing a new world-leading centre for digital technology in Sheffield, with its proud reputation for innovation and forward-thinking, would be an excellent complement to a move by Channel 4.
“We have seen in Media City in Manchester just how beneficial having educational and business links close to a media organisation can be, allowing them to build up natural and productive relationships.”
At the recent General Election, the Conservatives promised to relocate Channel 4 outside London.
However, it is understood a wholesale move at this stage is unlikely and the Government’s current consultation on Channel 4’s future is more likely to lead to parts of the broadcaster’s operations leaving the capital.
Leeds has submitted a bid in partnership with its neighbours, an area known as the Leeds City Region.
Its bid stresses that moving parts of Channel 4 to Leeds would help balance the presence of the BBC in the west of the country, particularly its major Salford base.
Roger Marsh, chairman of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Our bid addresses the huge imbalance that’s been allowed to develop, with virtually all investment going into the western side of the UK.
“This is not a sustainable position and we are confident that working in partnership with Channel 4 our proposals can bring positive impact and benefits to a very wide geographic area, namely the 18.2m people living on the eastern side of the UK who are currently underrepresented.”