THE BBC has sparked fury over plans to spend ￡14.5million on luxurious new studios while hiking the licence fee.
Bosses are splurging the cash kitting out a building on the 2012 Olympics site.
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The BBC are spending ￡14.5million to move to Stratford Credit: Getty 2
The broadcaster is leaving the famous Maida Vale Studios Credit: PA
It will have two studios, “visualisation rooms”, workshops and other spaces, likely to include a green room for stars to relax in when not filming.
Execs are putting out a tender for a firm to carry out the work.
They say the corporation’s Maida Vale Studios in West London are “no longer fit for purpose” — prompting the move east to Stratford.
Our revelation comes after it was announced on Thursday that the licence fee will rise from ￡159 to ￡169.50 a year from April.
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The fee had been frozen for two years and was set to rocket by ￡15 until Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer stepped in.
Joe Ventre, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, fumed: “Licence fee payers will be stunned by the Beeb’s grand plans.
“If the BBC wants to fund swish new offices, it should scrap the hated TV tax and let people choose whether to pay.”
The licence fee rise is based on the inflation rate from September.
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Ms Frazer announced last week she is launching a review of the BBC’s funding model.
She said: “The Government is committed to supporting families during these difficult times.”
The BBC said: “Maida Vale was no longer fit for purpose so we’re creating a world-class facility that will serve music lovers and benefit the local area for generations to come.”
The Maida Vale Studios, opened in 1946, has hosted sessions from stars such as The Beatles, David Bowie and Adele.