A dream by the old canal ?

The impact of the BBC's move to MediaCityUK on direct employment within Salford's boundaries has been revealed in a detailed FOI response.

In the period up to March 2012, 39 new staff with Salford addresses were recruited; 32 are still on the payroll. In addition, nine "Young Ambassadors" were given six-month contracts; two have now got permanent jobs, and a number of the others are still working on a part-time or casual basis.  34 new employees in Salford represents about 1.5% of the BBC's workforce there. Around 180 existing BBC staff already lived in Salford, and just moved buildings.

You can expect the Mail to make a meal of this, but the story of MediaCityUK is much bigger. The BBC has promised to bring a further 1,000 jobs at some date yet to be specified. ITV has moved 500 staff there over the past six months; and the new Coronation Street set is taking shape (after some hiccups) over the canal bridge. The Studios are in business. Salford University has 1500 students and staff in MediaCityUK buildings. There's a hotel, a posh new restaurant called Damson (what happened to Red House ?), and upmarket foodery Booths. The summer should see water taxis, and a few more events on the piazza - twice the size of Trafalgar Square.  The balance sheet isn't looking bad.