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Calls to base new BBC production hub in Birmingham

Corporation's 'studios' division will make programmers for other broadcasters

BBC show Doctors being filmed in Stratford in 2012

The has been urged to base its new production division in Birmingham.

Campaigners and MPs have called on the broadcaster to base BBC Studios, a new division allowing the corporation's production departments to make shows for other broadcasters, in the city.

They claim the central location and ready skill base would be ideal for the new operation – as well as addressing a major shortfall in spending across the Midlands.

Last year, the BBC reinvested just 8.5 per cent of the £942 million spent by Midland licence fee-payers back into the region – whereas it reinvests about 50 per cent or more in the six other º£½ÇÊÓÆµ regions.

While proposals for BBC Studios are being worked up, amid wider charter renewal debates, politicians from both sides of the political divide have called for Birmingham to be considered.

Andrew Mitchell (Con Sutton Coldfield) told the Post : "Because Birmingham is a British centre of the creative arts, it is clearly the right place for the BBC to carry through this initiative."

He added: "I think the BBC need to invest further in Birmingham, as they used to in the past.

"It is not clear why the BBC has down-scaled its investment in Birmingham and up-scaling would be welcomed by all of us."