The BBC has a large and diverse portfolio of properties in the UK. In September 2014, the BBC had 255 properties in its estate, including 154 buildings as well as unoccupied sites used for aerials and masts. Property is a significant area of spend for the BBC. In 2013-14, the BBC spent £273 million on running its estate, this was equivalent to 7.3% of its annual licence fee income.
The BBC has reduced the size of its estate and upgraded a large proportion of its estate to meet changing operating requirements, improve its environmental performance and open more of it up to audiences. The BBC is using its estate more efficiently. However, the overall cost is distorted by the high cost of running Broadcasting House, which accounts for a third (£89 million) of the total annual cost of running the BBC estate (£273 million) in 2013-14.
The BBC did not meet the target it set in 2008 to cap estate costs at 6% of licence fee income by 2013. This inquiry will look at how the BBC can make better use of space across the estate to secure value for money for the licence-fee payer and how it will meet the ambitious targets it has set itself.