The BBC’s controversial move of key departments to Salford will cost as much as £1 billion, leaked documents have revealed.

The broadcaster plans to move Radio 5 Live and its sports and children’s departments to a new media headquarters in 2011.

It is understood that around 1,400 staff are being asked to move, along with a further 800 from nearby BBC Manchester.

But the documents show that the relocation will cost at least £876 million and that an internal corporation budget analysis has warned that the final cost could be as much as £1 billion.

The paperwork admits there are ‘major risks around the cost budget’ that could push prices higher. The BBC has insisted the leaked documents are only early drafts but bizarrely despite admitting they do not know that the final cost will be - have pledged that the move will be revenue neutral.

This means that the broadcaster is expecting that to save as much from the relocation as it spends. The leaked documents reveal that by 2039, £170 million will be spent on rent, a further £218 million on new TV studio services, and £15m on new radio and orchestra studios.

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