Leading high-street names ready to take space in BBC headquarters
A STRING of leading high-street names are being lined up to take space in BBC Cymru Wales’ new £100m HQ in the centre of Cardiff.
The first of 1,200 staff from the public service broadcaster’s current HQ and studios, in the Llandaff suburb of Cardiff, will start relocating to the new building at the Central Square development from autumn 2019.
All staff are scheduled to have moved in by the first quarter of 2020.
The new HQ, designed by architectural firm Foster + Partners, was recently handed over to BBC Cymru Wales for its fitout.
The 150,000 sq ft building project was overseen by the developer behind Central Square, Rightacres Property.
Some 9,000 sq ft of ground-floor space in the building, which will remain under the ownership of Rightacres, has been set aside for retail units.
And while lease agreements have yet to be finalised, it is understood that Tesco, Greggs, Boots and Pret a Manger, have been lined up to occupy the space.
The outlets are expected to open for business on October 18 next year, the day before the first BBC staff move into in the building.
Tesco and Boots are among a small number of tenants remaining in St David’s House, located just yards away from the new BBC Wales building.
Work on demolishing the eyesore 120,000 sq ft building will begin in January.
That work will be carried out by contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, which is currently on site on land next to St David’s House constructing a new 270,000 sq ft office scheme which will serve as a hub for UK Government offices in Wales.
Most of the building, which will be ready for occupancy in 2020, will provide a new Welsh HQ for HMRC.
While subject to planning, the site of St David’s House has been earmarked for a new 180,000 sq ft Grade A office scheme and a public square.