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The
new building will house TV and radio studios, and online services
including the BBC Leeds website.
It
will be the base for BBC Radio Leeds as well as Look North and other
regional television programmes.
The shell is already becoming a landmark opposite Leeds bus station.
The first web pages wil be produced and programmes broadcast in
2004.
The new building is at Quarry Hill next to the Leeds College of
Music, who will have a 350-seat auditorium on the top floor.
Rushbond
plc, the Leeds-based property company, is developing the building
through a partnership with Leeds College of Music and Leeds City
Council.
The
building contractors Birse are working on the site which is also
next door to the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Work
started in spring 2002.
Musicians from Leeds College of Music played as Look North
weather presenter Paul Hudson, accompanied by representatives of
Rushbond, the college and Birse, officially broke ground to start
the construction of the £5m development.
Media centre
The
principal of Leeds College of Music, David Hoult, added: "Our
new building will further reinforce Quarry Hill's and Leeds' reputation
as a centre for media and the arts and provide a superb facility
for our students."
Colin
Philpott, head of regional and local programmes for BBC Yorkshire
and Lincolnshire, commented: "We are looking forward to relocating
to this purpose built facility from our existing Woodhouse Lane
building."
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