Channel 4 have confirmed its new headquarters will be in Leeds, in a boost for the so-called Northern Powerhouse project.
The broadcaster said it is in advanced discussions to set up base across three floors in the city’s Majestic Building, which is just opposite the train station.
In the meantime, Channel 4 employees are set to move into a temporary office in Leeds.
The Majestic Building was initially built in the 1920’s as a cinema, it later transformed into a nightclub, inspiring a Kaiser Chief song.
The decision will be a boost to the the government’s ambition to boost economic growth in Northern cities as part of its Northern Powerhouse strategy.
Jonathan Allan, Channel 4’s chief commercial officer, said: “Leeds offered a wealth of potential locations for our national HQ but the Majestic really stood out as an iconic building, which will put Channel 4 at the heart of the city centre. It’s an incredibly impressive redevelopment and offers the right mix of location, connectivity and space for our organisation and great facilities for our staff and our partners in the industry.”
Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, also commented:
“The Majestic building is an iconic Leeds landmark, and will be a fantastic location for Channel 4 when they make their move to the city.”
Prior to deciding upon Leeds, Channel 4 reportedly had been considering other cities including Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester.
