MediaCityUK is celebrating 10 years since the transformation of the former wasteland that once housed聽Manchester’s docks began.
Today, the hub in Salford, Greater Manchester, is firmly established as the home to the BBC, ITV, dock10, the University of Salford and more than 250 creative, digital and technology businesses.
The dramatic journey to become a thriving waterfront destination has been showcased in a video produced by dock10.
I features images showing how the site originally looked when it was a working dock back in the 1960s, employing up to 5,000 people.
A piece of derelict land which once acted as a car park for the Lowry arts centre, is now a community of 7,000 people, living, working and studying at MediaCityUK.
John Whittaker, chairman of The Peel Group, said: 鈥淥ur initial success in securing the BBC as an anchor occupier at MediaCityUK was the result of a strong partnership with Salford City Council and the Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company.
鈥淥ur belief in a shared vision and Peel鈥檚 commitment to invest more than 拢650 million in phase one ensured the delivery of a truly transformational media community, with huge potential for future growth.
鈥淚ndeed, it鈥檚 hard to believe that it鈥檚 already 10 years since we started construction.鈥�
MediaCityUK is a joint venture between Peel and Legal and General Capital.
Ambitious plans to double the size of the development by 2030 were approved last September, with a further 拢1 billion of private investment to come.
Stephen Wild, managing director at MediaCityUK, said: 鈥淟ooking around, we see it鈥檚 scarcely imaginable that just 10 years ago, nothing was here.
鈥淎s well as becoming a major, international media hub with leading broadcasters and television facilities, we鈥檝e created a unique community of creatives who are writing a new part of history for Manchester and Salford Quays.
鈥淲hile we鈥檙e incredibly proud of what鈥檚 been achieved so far, it doesn鈥檛 stop here. Our new apartment scheme, Lightbox, is being built as we speak, and work is underway for two fantastic new bar-restaurants 鈥� The Alchemist and The Botanist 鈥� set to open at the end of summer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very exciting time for MediaCityUK, and at this crucial juncture, it鈥檚 important to take stock of where we鈥檝e come from, before embarking on the next leg of the journey.鈥�
Paul Dennett, Salford鈥檚 City Mayor, added: 鈥淭he regeneration of Salford Quays has been more than 30 years in the making with iconic projects such as the Lowry Arts Centre and MediaCityUK at the centrepiece of the ambitions of the City Council and our many partners. We are delighted with the hugely significant contribution that MediaCityUK is making to the economy of Salford, Greater Manchester and the Northern Powerhouse, particularly in the areas of innovation and the nurturing of digital skills.
“Salford is now one of the top five places in the country for start-up growth and we look forward with great excitement to the next decade and beyond.鈥�
MediaCityUK timeline
June 2007 鈥� construction at MediaCityUK commences via Peel鈥檚 construction partner, Bovis Lend Lease
December 2010 鈥� initial infrastructure completed
January 2011 鈥� dock10 studios become operational
May 2011 鈥� BBC begins move of 3,200 staff into three buildings
October 2011 鈥� University of Salford opens its new media academy
March 2013 鈥� ITV completes move of 700 staff
January 2014 鈥� Coronation Street records first episode at MediaCityUK聽
March 2015 鈥� Legal and General Capital take 50% stake in MediaCityUK
September 2016 鈥� completion of Tomorrow (last building in phase one)
September 2016 鈥� planning approval for further expansion of MediaCityUK over the next 10 years聽聽