BBC Television Centre development to include hotel and restaurants

06-Feb-2013 - Last updated on 29-Jul-2024 at 13:05 GMT

Plans revealed this week could see part of the legendary BBC Television Centre in White City converted into a hotel

Part of the legendary BBC Television Centre could become a 50-bedroom hotel under plans revealed by the owner of the White City complex this week.

Property developer Stanhope bought TV Centre from the broadcaster and are currently leasing the venue back to the BBC. Yesterday, however, it revealed its plans for the 14-acre site which include converting part of the building into a hotel and opening up other spaces for the use of restaurants and cafés.

Boutique hotel

The proposals transform TVC, as the building is known, into a mixed-use development including office and TV studio space for the BBC, entertainment leisure facilities, offices, housing and public open space.

The inner ring of the centre, known as 'the doughnut' will become a hotel with space for residential apartments - it is believed the plans will see part of the famous glass circular portion of the building turned into a 50-bedroom boutique venue.

"We will be introducing a vibrant and exciting mix of new retail, leisure, office and residential uses whilst keeping and enhancing the famous original BBC buildings and retaining key operational BBC studio and office facilities on site," said David Camp, Stanhope's chief executive.

"Television Centre will be a great place to live, work and visit," he added.

Restaurants

Other plans for the building, originally opened in 1960, include:

Keeping a number of TV studios for the BBC.
Retaining the listed buildings and famous frontage of the centre.
Converting part of the building into houses alongside new-build residential properties and townhouses.
Refurbishing the 'Stage Four and Five' spaces into a new media or creative hub for businesses.

The hub is expected to feature a number of public uses including a health club, cinema and restaurants and cafés. According to press reports, themed businesses such as the Hairy Bikers Restaurant or the Great British Bake-Off Bakery might feature once the refurbishment is complete.

Nationwide leisure specialist firm Restaurant Property is advising on the leisure aspect of the development.

The development is the latest of a number in the White City and Shepherd's Bush areas to feature hospitality businesses.

It will also not be the first time a BBC building has become a hotel - there were plans to convert the former BBC Scotland HQ in Glasgow into an 85-bedroom property and more recently a former BBC broadcasting house in Worcestershire, The Wood Norton, opened as a boutique hotel following a £4m refurbishment.

A public exhibition of the proposed plans will now be held before planning permission is sought ahead of a hoped start to building work in 2015.