Relocation of BBC's 'value for money' watchdog costs £3.2m

THE watchdog entrusted with improving value for money from the BBC for licence-payers has spent £3.2 million on new premises.

The BBC Trust signed a 2.2m eight-year lease for the new headquarters in central London's Great Portland Street – one of the capital's most exclusive addresses.

Another 1m was spent on refurbishing the building, of which more than 40 per cent – 400,000 – was spent on "construction and fit out", and a quarter – 250,000 – on design, project management and removals.

The trust rejected space in offices used by the corporation at neighbouring Broadcasting House and at the BBC's Television Centre in White City, west London.

Between 40 and 50 members of the watchdog's 60-strong staff are now housed in the converted Edwardian mansion.

They moved from old offices in Marylebone High Street in October last year as part of the corporation's "property portfolio consolidation".

The BBC insisted the trust's decision represented "best value for money" and said it had considered another 12 properties before settling on Great Portland Street.

It said the "physical separation" from other BBC departments was also important in helping the trust protect its independence.

The move – which came soon after culture secretary Ben Bradshaw referred to the watchdog as a "cheerleader" for the BBC – is designed to save licence-payers around 300m, according to a trust spokesman.

He said: "The BBC Trust's office move was not made in isolation and was a result of the BBC's wider property portfolio consolidation. Ending the lease on Marylebone High Street, where the trust was previously based, along with BBC London and Training and Development, will create 300m of savings for licence fee payers.

"The trust's current office in Great Portland Street was chosen on the basis that it offered the best value for money of all the options considered, and we have reused and recycled existing office furniture and equipment in the fit-out of the new premises as far as possible."

The Conservatives have pledged to dissolve the trust in favour of a body "more in tune with licence fee payers", should they win the general election.