Yesterday was the first day of a three day exhibition of redevelopment plans at Television Centre. According to Nick Harris, our man on the scene, there was a steady stream of staffers going in to the exhibition, most of whom had already heard of the campaign, and at least six volunteers were there handing out flyers and talking to visitors. Stanhope were expecting us to be there and commented on how civilised it all was. So it should be, this is a campaign after all, not a protest!
David Clapham sent us this report from the TVC exhibition:
I went to the Stanhope exhibition at TVC yesterday evening and asked what had changed since the last exhibition. They replied ‘nothing, except this time there is more detail’. I spoke to a Stanhope representative who informed me that TC8 would be demolished in addition to studios 4,5 ,6 and 7 to make way for flats, so the facts are that 5 studios are to be demolished not 4.
I asked how many flats would be built occupying the space that studios 4 to 8 occupied and he promised me that he would email this information.
I then spoke to Andrew Fullerton stated that £200 million pounds for the sale of the site was the best that could have been achieved, and that £50 million was a more conservative price in the present market place. He informed me that the cost of moving CAR (Central Apparatus Room) from TVC would be borne by the BBC and was a condition of the sale, so we can deduct this cost from the sale price received by the BBC!
Interestingly BBC Worldwide have a 25 year lease and S and PP a 20 year lease when they move back in, so I guess that covers the remainder of the income from sale then! Stanhope very confident that all of their proposals for the site comply with current planning rules and the mayor’s policy for housing in the borough, and as such they will get planning permission.
Lots of other issues were discussed, for example security and audiences, but to be honest they haven’t a clue how such things will pan out .
This was a very depressing evening
If you went to the exhibition or are planning to attend, we would love to have your thoughts and comments.
