Western House

Western House
Location within Greater London
Alternative names BBC Western House
General information
Location 99 Great Portland Street, London
Country United Kingdom
Coordinates 51°31′09″N 0°08′34″W / 51.519132°N 0.142717°W / 51.519132; -0.142717Coordinates: 51°31′09″N 0°08′34″W / 51.519132°N 0.142717°W / 51.519132; -0.142717
Current tenants BBC (used to house BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music and the BBC Club)
Owner Scottish Widows Investment Partnership
Technical details
Floor count 7

Western House is a building in central London owned by Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and currently on long-term lease to the BBC.[1] It is located on the junction of Gildea Street and Great Portland Street adjacent to the BBC's headquarters, Broadcasting House.

History

The building has been used by the BBC since at least 1953 and for a large part of that time the upper floors were occupied by the BBC's Engineering Designs Department,[2] with the ground floor being occupied firstly by a car showroom and latterly becoming the home of the BBC's Recorded Sound Effects Library.[3] During this period, the building became the UK base for the first transatlantic colour television satellite communications.[4] The BBC Engineering Designs Department was restructured in the late 1980s and subsequently vacated Western House in 1987.

Following extensive renovation in the early/mid-2000s, its main use since 2006 has been as the home of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music,[5] although it also houses several smaller radio studios for use by other BBC stations[6] as well as a gym, bar and bistro for use by members of the BBC Club and guests.[7] The BBC's lease on the building currently runs until 2034.

References

  1. ↑ "H2SO Property Consultants2012 - SWIP buys Western House". Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "BBC Designs:Introduction". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Description". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "New Page 1". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "BBC - Inside the BBC - Where To Find Us - London". Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "BBC Radio Resources // Studios // London // Contribution". Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "BBC Club". Retrieved 28 April 2013.


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