An announcement has been made by Channel 4 that Cardiff’s bid to secure the broadcaster’s new national headquarters has been shortlisted.

The seven shortlisted locations in the running for the national HQ are Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Greater Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and the West Midlands.

Reacting to today’s news, Leader of Cardiff Council and Chair of the Cardiff bid, Cllr Huw Thomas, said:

“I am delighted with today’s announcement by Channel 4 that Cardiff has progressed to the next stage in our bid to secure their new National Headquarters and Digital Production Unit.

“The competition is fierce, but we have an extremely strong bid in place, developed in collaboration with our local creative industry. Culture, creativity and innovation are all at the heart of the city’s development, establishing Cardiff as one of the UK’s creative powerhouses, and developing one of the largest creative sectors outside London.

“Cardiff’s growth and regeneration is designed around the needs of that sector, bringing together custom-designed buildings in the centre of the city, located around a new integrated transport hub, which will connect talent here and across the UK.

“As well as being home to the nation’s biggest broadcasters, the Welsh Capital has a strong independent scene that delivers for the UK. Our bid is more than a relocation proposal, it’s an offer of a lasting partnership with a city whose creative ambitions and values match those of Channel 4. With 70,000 university students living in Cardiff, and over a third of the city’s residents under the age of 24, the creative potential of the city is vast.

“This city is committed to inclusive growth, and like Channel 4, we want to make opportunity available to everyone and inspire change for all nations and regions in the UK.

“Everyone involved in the bid to bring Channel 4’s National Headquarters and Digital Production Unit to Cardiff is now looking forward to engaging in the next stage of the process and welcoming Channel 4 to Cardiff to present the detail of our unique offer.”

The Welsh capital’s pitch – Cardiff 4 All – highlights:

Cardiff’s flourishing independent scene and creative sector;
The city’s track record in media and TV production;
Access to a talented, highly-skilled workforce with one of the youngest, most diverse city populations in the UK;
A city centre being redesigned around a new media, creative hub and integrated transport exchange, and;
The short journey time to London and other core cities – which will reduce even further next year when mainline electrification is completed

As part of the next stage in the selection process, a team from Channel 4 intends to visit the areas shortlisted in late June. The final decision will be made in October.