A MASSIVE refurbishment of BBC Radio York’s headquarters will be launched next month, taking the station fully into the digital age.

The project, set to take almost a year to complete, will mean some staff having to work temporarily in Leeds, although a BBC spokesman said he understood some would remain at the station at all times.

He also said reporters would be kept on the ground in York, and the station would continue with live outside broadcasts in locations such as the city centre.

The corporation first announced in 2007 that, despite massive job cuts and spending reductions nationwide, the York HQ in Bootham Row had been earmarked to undergo a full refurbishment.

At that time, the revamp was set to take place in 2008, but it was subsequently delayed.

The spokesman said today that Radio York was committed to having a strong presence in York so it could continue to provide quality local journalism on the issues people cared about.

“But the old analogue studio badly needs repairing and is simply not fit for the digital age,” he said.

“We only upgrade studios if it is the interests of licence fee payers, and we take care to ensure value for money.

“Our presenters and producers will still play a full part in local life.

“For example, while the refurbishment is under way, we will continue to have reporters on the ground in York, and live outside broadcasts including from the BBC Bus in the city centre.”

He was unable to say how much was being spent on the revamp.