Work has started on a new 100,000 sq ft 10-storey tower at MediaCityUK in Salford.
The £20m ‘Tomorrow’ building, by the Broadway Metrolink tram stop, features a 112-bed Premier Inn taking the first four floors, with a further six available for office and studio space.
Work by construction firm Bowmer and Kirkland is scheduled to be completed by summer 2016.
The architects are Chapman Taylor.
Salford City Council planners passed the proposals in September 2014.
The managing director of MediaCityUK, Stephen Wild, said: “MediaCityUK has been a key trigger in the explosion of creative start-ups and national relocations so it’s essential that we give these businesses the right type of space and the flexibility to grow organically.
“The design of Tomorrow is experimental, quirky and a little bit different and what will be on offer at Tomorrow will be complementary to the state-of-the-art digital technology in broadcast & production, audio and virtual reality arena currently offered at the Landing and Dock10.”
It is estimated that the new development will drive a further £7m of investment into the area and create 40 new jobs.
Neil Brook, Regional Director for Bowmer and Kirkland said: “Bowmer and Kirkland is delighted to have been awarded this prestigious project for the Peel Group at MediaCityUK. We hope that this will be the first of many projects as we continue to grow our business in the North West”.
As well as being home to the BBC, ITV, Coronation Street and the University of Salford, more than 200 smaller media and tech companies are now based at MediaCityUK.
Earlier this year the Peel Group announced Legal & General Capital as the new 50% shareholder in MediaCityUK.
