Proposal to list Alexandra Palace as UNESCO World Heritage Site (From Haringey Independent)

Proposal to list Alexandra Palace as UNESCO World Heritage Site

3:30pm Thursday 9th September 2010 in Alexandra Palace By Elizabeth Pears

A CONSERVATIONIST is expected to pitch a proposal to have Alexandra Palace listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The borough's most significant landmark is credited with being the birthplace of television as the BBC's first live broadcast was transmitted from one of the studio's there on November 2, 1936.

Haringey resident Clive Carter will raise the matter at a committee meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Carter will propose that the Alexandra Park and Palace Trust Board, who manage the site on behalf of Haringey Council, apply to have the south-east wing listed with UNESCO.

It would include the old BBC television studios, control rooms, dressing and transmitter rooms, as well as the telecine area, tower officers and the main transmission tower, Mr Carter.

Mr Carter said: "It would be marvellous if this came about. There are many hurdles to overcome, of course.

"The idea has been knocking around for years. Except there was no chance for it while the council was trying to sell the whole building for property development.

"With the formal withdrawal of that policy last January and the moves towards independence, I thought the time was now right for such an initiative."

The tower at Alexandra Palace itself is represented on the council's own logo, and the Greater London Council also presented the palace with a blue plaque marking its significance.

Mr Carter said international recognition was "long overdue", and said being listed as a World Heritage Site would attract more visitors, increase funding opportunities, and also coincides with the studio's 75th anniversary next year.

His proposal is being backed by the Alexandra Palace Television Group, the Alexandra Palace Television Society, the Alexandra Palace 405-line Television group and the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

The Hornsey Historical Society is also supporting the bid.