The BBC has confirmed the sale of its historic Maida Vale Studios to Oscar-winning music composer Hans Zimmer, his business partner Steven Kofsky, and Working Title chairmen Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for £10.5 million.
The Grade II-listed site in west London will undergo a multi-million-pound refurbishment, preserving its original Edwardian facade.
Germany-born Zimmer and co intend to transform the space into a not-for-profit education facility for musicians, ensuring a commitment to local job creation and investment.
Zimmer, whose discography includes the soundtracks tos z Christopher Nolan films The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar and Dunkirk, as well as films from Ridley Scott, Ron Howard, Dennis Villeneuve and many more, expressed his deep connection to Maida Vale, having worked there over four decades ago.
“I still remember the strong pull, the desire to touch the walls, as if that would somehow allow me to connect to the artists whose extraordinary music had resonated against these walls on a daily basis," Zimmer remarked.
"This was a place of revolutionary science in the service of art, this was a place that inspired you to give your best, where music was performed around the clock and art was taken seriously," he reflected.
He envisions Maida Vale as “a place that inspires, teaches, technologically serves the arts and humanity, and gives the next generation the same opportunities I was given: to create and to never give up”.
The studio, which began as a roller skating palace, was acquired by the BBC in 1933. It has since witnessed recording sessions by iconic artists such as David Bowie, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin.
Zimmer's acquisition followed a competitive bid, with a rival syndicate, including Sir Len Blavatnik and director Matthew Vaughn, reportedly offering £16 million.
The BBC aims to inaugurate its new studios in East Bank by late 2025, which will house the BBC Performing Groups and a vast sheet music collection.
Lorna Clarke, BBC's director of music, expressed her optimism about the sale, emphasising the continued musical legacy of the iconic building.
“Maida Vale has played such an important part in the BBC's history, and its significance in popular culture is huge.
"We are so pleased to secure a sale which looks to continue the bright, vibrant future of music making in this iconic building - not only providing new studio spaces but jobs and an education facility.
"We look forward to being able to continue to deliver world-class music to BBC audiences with our new tailor-made BBC Music Studios in the wonderfully rich cultural district of London's East Bank."