In pictures: How the BBC's new Salford base is taking shape

The BBC announced its intention to move departments out of London in 2004 after deciding it could no longer justify spending the vast majority of the licence fee in the south-east of England. Here is a CGI rendition of how the MediaCityUK complex in Salford - the development in which the BBC will occupy three buildings on a long-term lease - will look Photograph: Peel Media

The Salford Quays base was chosen after a contest, beating off competition from nearby Manchester. Here is another CGI shot - this time from within the complex Photograph: Peel Media

The new director of BBC North, Peter Salmon, described the project as a great cultural shift that would 'define the way the BBC works for a generation'. Here is an idea of how it will look from inside one of the offices Photograph: Peel Media

The owner of MediaCityUK, Peel Holdings, has been trying to lure more firms to join the development, including ITV. This map show's Salford Quays' location in relation to Manchester Photograph: Peel Media

The Salford Quays site is also home to developments of new apartments as well as the Lowry Centre and the Imperial War Museum of the North. This shot shows how the land looked before work started on the complex Photograph: Don McPhee/Guardian

The site has good transport links, including Greater Manchester’s famous trams Photograph: Christopher Thomond/Christopher Thomond

Construction is still ongoing, with the BBC’s new home due to open in 2011 Photograph: Christopher Thomond

There has been criticism that the BBC’s focus on Salford will be to the detriment of other English regions, although the BBC has denied this Photograph: Christopher Thomond/Christopher Thomond

The five departments to be based in Salford will be sport, children’s, Radio 5 Live, learning and future media and technology Photograph: Christopher Thomond

Eight hundred staff from BBC Manchester will also relocate Photograph: Christopher Thomond/Christopher Thomond

There has been criticism that BBC Sport is moving to Salford a year before the Olympics take place in London, although some staff will remain in the capital to focus on the event Photograph: Christopher Thomond

The cranes will still be a factor of the skyline for several more years Photograph: Christopher Thomond/Christopher Thomond

Following the decision of 30 senior managers, hundreds of other staff will have to decide whether to make the move later this year Photograph: Peel Media

BBC staff who have visited the site have been impressed by the progress of the development Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty

An original design featuring giant 'floating pods' in the quays didn’t make it past the planning stage, alas. BBC staff joked that they would either have to swim or catch a boat to the glass pods Photograph: Peel Media