BBC to close its famous Maida Vale studio

As the BBC’s live hub for more than 80 years, Maida Vale has played host to countless bands and programmes from The Beatles’ radio specials to the fondly remembered Peel Sessions. Now though, its days are numbered.

“I understand how much our musical heritage at Maida Vale means to us, to artists and to audiences,” BBC director general Tony Hall has said. “We haven’t taken this decision lightly. But we’re determined to ensure that live music remains at the heart of the BBC and moving to this new development gives us the opportunity to do just that.”

That decision is the closing of Maida Vale, with the BBC planning a move to the Olympic Park in East London by 2022. The intention is for the new base to provide increased rehearsal facilities and opportunities to engage with  local communities – James Purnell, director of radio and education, added:

“This proposed new building will act as a magnet for music development in east London and will allow us to share our music facilities and expertise with local, diverse communities as well as being a much better place for our brilliant music staff to work from.”