Birmingham has lost its bid to become the new home of Channel 4, after the broadcaster chose Leeds as the site for a planned national headquarters.

The decision prompted Labour politicians to demand answers from West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who led the campaign to bring the broadcaster to the region.

Mr Street said: “While the news is a huge disappointment, the work that has gone into the bid has not been wasted.”

And he insisted the failed bid would still being benefits to the region, saying: “As we progressed through the bid process we saw a growing sense of collaboration and commitment across the region between local authorities, organisations and our creative industries.

“This has led to a number of developments set to improve the creative landscape regardless of Channel 4’s decision, which will be announced in the coming weeks.”

But Labour politicians criticised the Tory mayor, saying he needed to provide answers about why the bid failed.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin said: “We need a proper post mortem on the campaign and we need a proper plan to attract other organisations and government departments to the region.”

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street (left) and Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward with the Birmingham Post's Channel 4 supplement
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street (left) and Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward with the Birmingham Post's Channel 4 supplement

Liam Byrne, Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, said: “This is a huge blow for Birmingham - and a big missed opportunity for Channel 4.

“Andy Street needs to fast explain what went wrong - so we can learn the lessons and fix whatever it was that went against us.”

And Labour MEP Sion Simon, who stood against Mr Street in the 2017 mayoral election, said: “Andy Street promised to bring Channel 4 to the West Midlands as a measure of his success. Will he now apologise to the incredible creative industries in our region that he misled?”

Birmingham was one of three bids shortlisted by Channel 4, alongside Manchester and Leeds.

The announcement that Leeds was chosen to host the HQ is also likely to lead to soul-searching in Manchester, which had been seen as the favourite to win the contest in recent weeks.

Channel 4 is also to open two smaller “hub” offices in Bristol and Glasgow.

The new National HQ and hubs will be home to 300 Channel 4 jobs when fully established, including key creative decision makers – responsible for commissioning Channel 4 content and programmes from producers right across the UK

Channel 4 news is also to be broadcast partly from Leeds, with anchors based in studios in both Leeds and London.

The broadcaster said that all six cities taken forward for consideration as a National HQ or hub delivered “exceptionally high quality pitches” and all demonstrated that their cities would be excellent locations.

However, it went on to say that the Leeds City Region put forward a “comprehensive, compelling and ambitious strategy” to partner with Channel 4 and the wider broadcasting sector, to support growth in the production and creative industries, and to nurture new talent from diverse backgrounds.

It also said that locating the National HQ in Leeds will enable Channel 4 to capitalise on a fast-growing independent production sector across the north of England, while Leeds is home to a “thriving digital industry and a strong digital talent pool”.

Alex Mahon, Channel 4 Chief Executive said: “We undertook a rigorous process over the last seven months and the high calibre of all the pitches meant those were incredibly difficult decisions to make.

“However, I know that Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow will best deliver our objectives to grow the production sector across the UK, build the pipeline of creative talent outside London and support our increased investment in programming produced across the Nations and Regions.”

Charles Gurassa, Channel 4 Chair said: “We were very impressed by the high quality of all the pitches delivered by the shortlisted cities and I’d like to extend my thanks to all the many people involved.”

Birmingham Council Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, described the decision as “a major disappointment”.

He said: “Birmingham would have been an ideal location for Channel 4, with a wealth of knowledge and creativity, talent and energy combined with one of the youngest and most diverse populations in Europe, in a region that is undergoing an economic resurgence.

“While we may not have been successful with our bid for Channel 4, we continue to be successful as city reinventing itself for the 21st century. We have the infrastructure, the people and the ambition needed to drive this city forward and I’m confident we will see many more successes in Birmingham in 2019.”

Paul Faulkner , chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “It’s a blow for Greater Birmingham and a huge disappointment for the team who put such a compelling case for C4 to set up in Birmingham.”

But he said: “We have no doubt that the brilliant cultural sector in the city and region will continue to flourish and go from strength to strength regardless of this decision.”