ITV abandons the South Bank

ITV must have been very happy with the facilities at Television Centre, and their deal with BBC Studioworks must be working very well indeed for them to do this.

I remember Philip and Holly saying "don't worry, we will be back here in a few years time" when they were moving out of the south bank, I wonder if they will change that phrase now?

This means Studios TC2 and TC3 will become the permanent home for ITV Daytime for the foreseeable future. Amazing how ITV, the arch rival to the BBC, now have to rely on BBC studio facilities for four of their top daytime shows.

Their office space also based in White City must be affordable and the best option, thus selling the whole south bank complex will ensure ITV have plenty of money to spend on the sub-letting and hiring arrangements with BBC Studioworks and Stanhope over the years to come.

I am surprised. I thought ITV would want some sort of studio presence of their own in London, but they must not care. Where is the administrative headquarters for ITV now? Grays Inn Road? They must have some administrative headquarters, as even Channel 4 and Channel 5 have one.

I agree, it’s very true. But with money only just been spent on recreating that studio, we’re unlikely to see a change anytime soon?

What would the backdrop be if it wasn’t that view? Only another recorded view of somewhere, so would make sense to keep it?

How many other studios are there at TVC that ITV Daytime don’t use? Is it just 1?

Well they always were, the build was scheduled to take 5 years, but as even they acknowledged they never run to time. Who knows what will happen though. ITV might move them to another HQ somewhere else, or one or more of the programmes might end.... if Lorraine and/or Loose Women would be the first to go if anything


They made their opinion on owning studios clear when they announced the closure of the South Bank. As I said earlier, I'd have thought they'd want a central home of their own, it's more efficient and better for working than having disperate sites all over London

Every company needs an official address. Yes I think ITV's is now Grays Inn Road.

There only three studios remaining at TVC. Studios TC1, TC2 and TC3. TC1 is the only one ITV are not using fully for their shows. TC2 and TC3 are under a sub let agreement with BBC Studioworks. There were original plans to keep TC4, but that was ditched due to money.

2 Waterhouse Square, 138 - 142 Holborn, London, EC1N 2AE as confirmed at https://www.itvplc.com/contact-us with more details about the building at https://www.buildington.co.uk/london-ec1/140-holborn/two-waterhouse-square/id/5931 - Google is your friend!

Interesting sentence there - "2017 - Skype is subleasing the 90,000 sq ft space in Waterhouse Square to ITV while they refurbish their headquarters in South bank." - This will change now we know they are not returning to the south bank.

'2017 - Skype is subleasing the 90,000 sq ft space in Waterhouse Square to ITV while they refurbish their headquarters in South bank.'

I can't imagine that will be a permanant thing.

So if the plans have been throw out does this mean, were see a new set of idea in 2019 I dare say we're see two two blocks for apartments?

Depends what the council wants. They probably wouldn't like it being purely housing as it doesn't bring as much to the economy as a mixed use development. The impact on the area of losing a big commercial complex will be quite high, plus it's a popular tourist area.

They were actually granted planning permission for the original redevelopment plans for the South Bank site.

If they're now selling the site, any new plans which don't involve television studios / commercial activity will need approval for change of use.

If the council don't approve any plans for change of use, we could still see tv studios back at the South Bank at some point, so it could end up being similar to Television Centre.

Another possibility is that the site is sold and some of the existing studios are retained by the new owner.

It wouldn’t be a shock if they sell the building but lease it back for offices and studios

Which would be quite ironic given that they originally leased it for around 40 years before purchasing it just 5 years ago.