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Ring of 200 bollards to save BBC HQ from car bombers
Ruth Bloomfield14.01.09
THE BBC is planning to put up a "ring of steel" around Broadcasting House, its central London headquarters.
It has applied for permission to install more than 200 fixed bollards around the building as well as eight hydraulic retractable bollards and seven large concrete planters.
The move comes amid concerns that Broadcasting House could become a target for terrorists.
The bollards will circle the perimeter of the site, along All Soul's Place, Portland Place, Duchess Street and Hallam Street.
A similar technique has also been used at the nearby American Embassy, in Grosvenor Square, to prevent car bombers from getting close. A BBC spokeswoman said today: "This has always been part of the plan for the redevelopment. I cannot say more than that - we never discuss security matters."
But a BBC source added: "There are concerns that the BBC, because of its international reputation, could be seen as a high-profile target for terrorists."
Westminster council is due to approve the plans to turn Broadcasting House into one of the West End's most heavily protected buildings at a meeting of its planning applications sub-committee tomorrow.
English Heritage objects to the scheme because it feels the concrete planters and stainless steel bollards will be unsightly around the Grade II*-listed building. But Westminster planners say the security measures are justified.
A report for the council says: "The BBC's Broadcasting House is currently being extended with a major new building to the north of old Broadcasting house.
"When completed it will house all of the BBC's new functions. The proposal is to provide bollards and planters around the building.
"The proposed installation of bollards and planters will have a significant visual impact but it is considered that this is acceptable in order to meet the security brief."
The scheme has emerged as the BBC continues with an £800million revamp of the Broadcasting House site, complete with a new nine-storey glass and stone extension. The project, which is already two years behind schedule and £20million over budget, will eventually house 4,500 staff, 36 radio studios, six TV studios, two control rooms and 60 editing suites.
It will also include the world's largest newsroom, a 43,000 square foot open-plan office the size of half a football pitch.
The BBC was previously a target for terrorists in March 2001 when the Real IRA planted a bomb in a cab outside BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush. One man suffered minor injuries in the blast.
Reader views (4)
The only people likely to advance on Broadcasting house are those of us who are sick of paying good money for the dross output the BBC produce.
- Bob, Cheam
The BBC is acting on information from a medium that has supplied them with information since around Easter 2007. It has been warned of a number of things in advance, because of the Emergency Planning role of its radio stations in the UK, and because of its global presence. It has been holding an international peace plan designed to neutralise armed conflicts between major faiths for over a year now, and has so far failed to use it, despite the words "Nation shall speak peace unto nation" on the HQ building in this article. The last thing it was told to watch out for was rocket launchers from terrorists, which we are now seeing used to provoke Israel.
- Snowball, London, England
The BBC hardly needs saving from the islamic peril...they are the voice of islam in Britain. Tune into Radio Four anytime to hear some muslim moaning about ho intolerant Britain is.
- Squiz, Islington
A total waste of public and tax payers monies. The bbc seems to consider it's self on par with high risk instutions. Or is it trying to increase its value as a high risk potential.
Even if the Beeb should become imobilised. There are plenty of local radio broadcast units who are able to take over, and do the broadcasts as well if not better than the beeb.
This is a political move of protection by the present cowardly system, at the payers expense.
- A Winsley, London
