The BBC hosted a 'bidders conference' for the five consortia on its long-list for the huge property partnership opportunity. The potential partners are:

Foresite Consortium Amey Plc, CIT Group

London & Regional Properties/MSRF London & Regional Properties Ltd and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds

MBL Vision Limited Mapeley Limited, British Land

Promedia Carillion Plc, British Telecom, Marylebone Warwick Balfour Group

Trillium Trillium, Land Securities

John Smith, Director of Finance and Business Affairs, said: "The BBC recognises that its property programme is essential to improve the way it goes about its business. It wants to create modern, flexible and efficient buildings which attract key talent and which are more welcoming to our audiences, but importantly, at no additional cost to the licence fee payer.

"What we want from the private sector is a partner who will bring the very highest levels of professional finance, development and project management skills to this exciting undertaking."

Ian Robertson, Director of Property at the BBC, welcomed the five consortia to a presentation at Television Centre, followed by a tour of three major London sites: Television Centre, White City and Broadcasting House.

He said: "This is an important day for the BBC and its property vision. Our buildings have served us well in the past but they no longer meet the needs of our business. We are not alone in this thinking, as the prestigious array of high calibre, potential partners here today proves.

"We are deeply committed to our vision and to implementing a property partnership. We are now embarking on its realisation - starting to create the tailor-made partnership which will provide a modern property infrastructure across London, the Nations and Regions - meeting the BBC’s needs for at least the next 30 years. It is a tremendous challenge and a great responsibility, but above all it is a wonderful opportunity."

The five consortia have until Thursday 31 August to undertake further research and submit detailed proposals to the BBC’s advisers, N M Rothschild and Sons Limited, who with DTZ Pieda Consulting, are managing the procurement. The BBC will announce a short-list in the autumn and aims to create the partnership by February 2001.

Richard Byatt