Very true, though the BBC needed to progress in the Midlands, it's a shame that Pebble Mill was sacrificed. It also seems odd that it took about 5 years to construct Pebble Mill and it probably takes them about 5 weeks to bring it down.
Isn't that the case with all buildings though? - it's always quicker to destroy somethign that make it in the first place
It's sad really that such a relatively young building is being knocked down, but that is quite common with 60's and 70's architecture - it tends to date very quickly. The use of asbestos doesn't help much either
Well as you say that is true, I'm emphasising more on how long it took to build as it was a very big building and the years of planning that went into the building, as planning started as early as the mid 1960's for the BBC to have proper studios in the Midlands. Though as you say it is a common sight these days with many 1960's/70's buildings being demolished, so Pebble Mill is no exception, plus the BBC didn't own the land, it was leased from Birmingham City Council for 30 years or so and their lease was up.
The lease wasn't up though - it had a significant time left to run - I don't think it was close to expiring... In fact I think there may have been a financial benefit to the BBC for returning the land before the lease ran out?
indeed - i thought the lease was 99 years? and i dont think it was leased from birmingham city council. i also seem to recall it was a peppercorn rent, compared with the astronomical rent they must be paying in the mailbox.
the move to reduce studio capacity makes sense, however i think the reduction in capacity should have taken place in london. the bbc, unlike its comercial rivals has a duty to reflect the entire country in the programmes it makes.
harshy posted:
Sad to see the photos of Pebble Mill being demolished, what's going to be in it's place?
The problem with reducing capacity in London is that all of the studios are in one place - TV Centre - so unless you suggest mothballing TVC studios, and having some expensive storage space where once were studios - there is no real way of doing this cost-effectively.
You don't save on staffing and maintenance costs by reducing TV Centre's studio coutn anywhere near as effectively as you did by totally closing a few network production studios in Birmingham and Bristol...
indeed - i thought the lease was 99 years? and i dont think it was leased from birmingham city council. i also seem to recall it was a peppercorn rent, compared with the astronomical rent they must be paying in the mailbox.
They'll be paying a lot of rent, but will be saving a fortune on having to maintain a very large, old, buildng
The shoebox rent is rumoured to be £2.5M/year and includes a penalty for late occupation. Then there's Birmingham University for "Doctors", and the Media Village up in Stirchley.
There is also the vast cost of converting the shop unit in the shoebox,, considerably more than maintaining PM for many years!
Plus the cost of the various "unexpected" problems - like having to reinforce the structure to take the weight of the studio.
Also the original plan assumed that the 100,000 sq. ft. paid for could be increased to 200,000 by building a whole area mezzamine. Structural loads meant there is only around 30,000 sq. ft. of mezzamine.