BBC Director General Tony Hall has announced the construction of a brand-new music centre in the Stratford Waterfront Development in East London. The venue will combine state-of-the art rehearsal and recording studios with a base for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

These renowned ensembles will be joining a number of other world-class educational and cultural institutions also located on the development site, including Sadler’s Wells, the V&A and the London College of Fashion, opening up a wealth of potential partnerships and artistic projects. The proposed move will also allow the BBC to run recording workshops and music sessions within local schools and music hubs, boosting its presence in East London and engaging a far wider and more diverse audience.

But it’s not all about classical music. A number of radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, 6 Music, Asian Network and BBC Introducing, are set to broadcast regularly from the site, thereby establishing the venue as an established destination for music of all genres. Director of Radio and Education at the BBC James Purnell said: ‘The 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.’ 

The development is part of the ongoing commitment to building on the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics.