MediaCityUK

MediaCityUK will be Europe's first
purpose-built creative & media development. It is an innovative
complex designed to bring together companies from across the sector
and establish an international centre for excellence in the digital
media and creative industries. MediaCityUK is being developed and
managed by
Peel Media, a division of the Peel
Group.
As well as being home to five BBC departments,
MediaCityUK is expected to create more than 15,000 jobs; deliver £1
billion in additional net value to the Northwest's economy over
five years, once complete; and provide workspace for more than
1,100 creative and related businesses.
As the UK’s largest construction project
outside of the Olympic Park – and the third biggest in Europe –
MediaCityUK is already making a significant impact on the local and
regional economy providing jobs, skills and wider community
benefits.
As a key driver of economic growth, the NWDA
is investing directly into MediaCityUK. The NWDA is one of the key
public sector partners in the development and is investing over £30
million towards the MediaCityUK Infrastructure Works project.
Infrastructure Works
The Infrastructure Works project includes:
- Pedestrian Link Bridge: a new bridge connecting MediaCityUK
across the Ship Canal to the Trafford side and Imperial War
Museum
- Main Piazza: the principal focus point for MediaCityUK which
will be able to hold 4,000 people. The spectacular Piazza will be
the centre piece of MediaCityUK, almost twice the size of Trafalgar
Square, with landscaped gardens and seating areas, this WiFi
enabled outdoor area will provide a natural meeting and networking
point. A future venue for key outdoor events.
- Media Wall: a large scale video screen and other smaller scale
video displays within the Media Zone.
- Canopies to main Piazza: a covered walkway providing all
weather protection for workers, residents and visitors to the main
piazza.
- Extension to Metrolink: (the Agency’s £7.2 million investment
in this element is being provided to GMPTE to deliver the project)
Key elements include 400m Metrolink rail spur to the heart of
MediaCityUK and a new tram stop. This will provide a service every
6 minutes from Manchester to MediaCityUK and the wider Quays.
Media Enterprise Centre
Media Enterprise Centre – which will be
located within the heart of MediaCityUK – will support skills
development, stimulate and support research activities, provide
access to specialist business services, offer business accelerator
space for cohabiting businesses, offer a range of business centre
services including flexible meeting/demo space, and provide a focal
point for social networking.
The NWDA is currently working in partnership
with Salford City Council to develop an operational model and
funding for the Media Enterprise Centre, and for a number of
strategic projects and facilities that will be based there
including:
- FIRM: a research framework and fund for the digital &
creative sector, led by Salford University
- Digital Content Lab: a rapid prototyping environment bringing
together talented individuals, innovative SME’s and major
commissioners within the digital and creative sector
- MakeMedia: a grass roots and community media skills Centre of
Excellence
Public Sector Partners Programme
An additional £1.5 million is being provided
by the NWDA to support the MediaCityUK Public Sector Partners
Programme. The Programme is a partnership between Salford City
Council, Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company and the NWDA,
setup to co-ordinate and deliver the public sector interventions
necessary to support the transformational outcomes that MediaCityUK
has the potential to produce across three main programme areas:
- Place: focusing on the physical development/regeneration of
MediaCityUK and the surrounding area
- Sector & Economy: focusing on maximising the positive
economic impact of MediaCityUK on the local, regional and northern
Digital and Creative Industries sector
- People & Communities: focusing on delivering community
benefits, educational and regeneration opportunities
Local Infrastructure
The NWDA is also investing in wider
infrastructure works in the wider Salford area. This includes
providing £2 million towards a £7.5 million project to upgrade the
future electricity power capability for general benefit in the
locality of Salford Quays.
Business Support
Northwest Vision + Media – whose role has been
expanded to support all Creative & Digital companies in the
region – is relocating on site in Autumn 09. Their role is to grow
the Digital & Creative sector across the Northwest, helping
companies to benefit from MediaCityUK.
The NorthernNET project, funded by The
Northern Way, is a high speed telecommunications network connecting
MediaCityUK to 18 industry hubs across the North of England,
including Northwest Vision and Media’s new offices. The
technology will allow SMEs in the creative and digital sector to
collaborate more effectively and share ideas.
MediaCityUK Images
The images shown below are drawn from Flickr and show the
progress of the development of MediaCityUK in Salford; they are not
under the control of the NWDA.