Controversy
On 17 February 2010, it was reported that the studio's owners, EMI had put the world-famous studios up for sale because of increasing debts. There was reported interest by property developers in redeveloping the site into luxury apartments. It has also been reported that there is a possibility that the studios could be purchased by the National Trust in an effort to preserve what in effect is a historical building. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber was reported to have put in a bid of £30 million to purchase the studios but this was turned down by EMI. The Save Abbey Road Studios campaign has also been mounted to ensure that the premises remain working studios and do not become a museum. EMI has released a statement saying that it plans on keeping the studio under its ownership and is actually looking for an investor to help with a "revitalisation" project. Meanwhile, the British government has declared Abbey Road Studios a Grade II listed building, as it is an historic site, which protects the site from major alterations.
Paul McCartney, speaking to BBC Newsnight on 16 February 2010, said that there have been efforts to save Abbey Road by "a few people who have been associated with the studio for a long time", although he did not name those people or include himself among them. "I have so many memories there with the Beatles", he added. "It still is a great studio. So it would be lovely for someone to get a thing together to save it".
Read more about this topic: Abbey Road Studios
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