Bidding begins for International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre

THE SEARCH officially began today for tenants to take over the Olympic media centre in Hackney Wick once the 2012 Games are over.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has launched a nine-week marketing push inviting businesses to come forward to express interest in moving into the Main Press Centre (MPC) and International Broadcast Centre (IBC).

The regeneration company, which is in charge of securing a successful future for the Olympic Park, wants to create a new long-term employment district on the banks of the River Lee.

Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe wants to see the creative, digital and media industries move into the centre.

But the OPLC is inviting proposals from all bidders providing they create employment opportunities linked to communities in Hackney Wick.

Andrew Altman, OPLC chief executive, said: “Innovation and enterprise will help define the long-term future of the Olympic Park, and the Broadcast and Press Centres are fundamental to this through the creation of opportunities for businesses and the communities living nearby.

“As we did with the Olympic Stadium, we want to bring interested parties to the table and understand how their proposals can fit in with our vision to create an employment district.”

More than 20,000 journalists, photographers and broadcasters will use the centre and the 1,200 capacity car park during Games-time.

Up for grabs once they leave will be 872 square metres of office space over five floors and 53,362 square metres of commercial space over two floors in be the enormous IBC and 29,455 square meters of prime office space in the five-storey MPC.

The market testing exercise will be completed by the end of the year, including a month for the OPLC to speak to interested parties about their proposals.