A FORMER pie factory at the heart of the MediaCity:UK site is preparing to serve up the best of the north west's television talent.

The old Freshbake factory in the aptly named Broadway at Salford Quays is being transformed into studios for independent TV companies.

Named The Pie Factory On Broadway, the scheme is a joint venture between site developer Peel Holdings and Andy Sumner, who owns post-production company Sumner's, in Whitworth Street, Manchester.

It is the first building to open at the proposed site for MediaCity:UK where the BBC is setting up a new northern headquarters, transferring 800 staff from Oxford Road and 1,500 staff from London.

The factory houses 50,000 sq ft of sound stages and 20,000 sq ft of office space and will provide companies with the space to build sets for as long as they need.

Andy said: "We're actually on the site now and MediaCity will grow around us. The major developer Peel wanted to get something going before the BBC even arrives and there are lots of companies wanting to come to the pie factory.

"We didn't want to be in a situation where we were waiting for the BBC. It's not just about the BBC, it's about MediaCity."

Andy has been getting the factory ready since October last year. Two of the five studios have already been created and companies including Shameless creator Paul Abbott's Tightrope and Hat Trick Productions have already been taking advantage of the facilities on offer.

Andy added: "Paul Abbott's company Tightrope has said that if there's anything big to make like Shameless then it will be done here. Before they've used different locations but now Paul is committed to the idea of Salford Quays.

"MediaCity is going to employ thousands of people and the place will become a media centre for the whole of the UK, if not Europe and the world. It's going to be a fundamental development for Salford."