Coventry and West Midlands makes shortlist for new Channel 4 headquarters - The Coventry Observer

Coventry and West Midlands makes shortlist for new Channel 4 headquarters

Coventry Editorial 30th May, 2018 Updated: 30th May, 2018   0

Coventry and the West Midlands has made the shortlist to become Channel 4’s new national headquarters.

The broadcaster has today (May 30) announced the region has been selected and made it past the ‘first hurdle’.

This success follows the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) making a formal bid to bring Channel 4 (C4) to the region earlier this month.

The bid focused on potential sites in Birmingham and Coventry, highlighting the many strengths of the West Midlands under the strapline of ‘Get Closer’.




These include its connectedness, its diversity, its culture and the exciting few years of events the region will stage.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “This was the first hurdle we needed to overcome in order to secure the new national HQ for Channel 4 and now we can focus on enhancing our bid further.


“Both Birmingham and Coventry offer powerful arguments to Channel 4 in terms of location, talent and the youth and diversity of the population and I am pleased this has been recognised.

“Now the hard work really starts as we begin negotiations in earnest to develop the most compelling case possible to the broadcaster.”

The WMCA bid had received wide ranging support from stakeholders, major media players, creative organisations and local businesses.

Coventry City Council leader George Duggins has previously said a bespoke building could be offered at a city location, with planned business park Friargate, next to the train station, being the obvious site.

Councillor Duggins said: “We are delighted that our bid has been shortlisted and we are a step nearer to welcoming Channel 4 to Coventry.

“It is great to see that Channel 4 recognises the combination of factors that make Coventry and the West Midlands the perfect place for businesses looking to relocate and build for the future.

“Our city offers unrivalled transport links, a young, diverse population and a reputation for design and innovation – and we are, of course, UK City of Culture 2021, which will put Coventry well and truly in the national spotlight and build a legacy for years to come.

“We will now work with partners and other organisations around the city and region to strengthen our bid and put forward as strong a case as possible, so we can be named the broadcaster’s new HQ when the decision is made later this year.”

There will be now a period of further consultation, which will see the WMCA work in partnership with Channel 4 to highlight the benefits of moving to the West Midlands.

The final announcement is expected at the end of this year, with the broadcaster moving to the new HQ in 2019.

C4 is seeking to establish three new creative hubs outside London, as part of its ‘4 All the UK’ strategy.

The largest of these hubs will become the national headquarters, consisting of offices, a new studio, a base for daily programmes and a new digital production unit.

The WMCA is confident that C4 will recognise that the West Midlands is the ideal choice as it looks to improve its representation across the nation.

Sarah Windrum, the Coventry Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership board director, said: “Channel 4 should come to the West Midlands because it is all about them getting closer to their audience – and we are well placed to get closer to the whole of the UK. We are at the heart of the transport connectivity network and our population is young and diverse.

“There are some very interesting conversations happening in the region of which Channel 4 can be a part, and we have wide diversity of thought around content creation and input, which would be mutually beneficial.

“We have Coventry as UK City of Culture in 2021, Birmingham hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and who knows what will be coming next – it would be great for Channel 4 to be at the centre of all that is happening in the region.”

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