Moving BBC workers to Mediacity in Salford from their London headquarters met with resistance but is now proving a success, according to the head of corporate real estate at BBC Workplace.

Speaking to Public Property UK yesterday at the Public Property Summit, Chris Kane said workers had been averse to the north-west as a place to live and work.

He said: “There’s huge cynicism about the move. You’re asking people to upset their lifestyles and move to the north, an area that people have a very negative view of.”

However, Kane said the wrench was necessary for improving the way the BBC works. He said employees had come to recognise the Manchester city region for its vibrancy, strong record of regeneration, and easy access to beauty spots such as the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.

“The cost of moving people is enormous,” he said. “But you need to do it in order to restructure an organisation.”

Kane also welcomed ITV’s decision to move from its Manchester HQ to the new Salford development.

He speaks to Public Property UK below:

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