Leeds has been chosen as the location for Channel 4's new national headquarters, the broadcaster's chief executive Alex Mahon has confirmed.

The city was chosen over Greater Manchester and Birmingham, and has been praised for its "thriving digital industry and a strong digital talent pool" by Channel 4.

The broadcaster's two new creative hubs will be located in Glasgow and Bristol.

The three new locations are part of Channel 4's 4 All the UK strategy, which was first announced in March and will mark the biggest change to the structure of the organisation in its 35-year history.

Ms Mahon said in a statement: "Diversity and inclusion have always been at the heart of Channel 4's mission and the launch of our 4 All the UK plan is the biggest and most exciting change in the organisation's 35-year history - as we open up Channel 4 to people from across the UK and supercharge the impact we have in all parts of the country.

"We will be spending up to £250m more on programming produced in the Nations and Regions and to catalyse that spend I'm delighted to confirm that we will be establishing a new National HQ in Leeds and new Creative Hubs in Bristol and Glasgow.

"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.

"Leeds put forward a compelling and ambitious strategy for how they could work alongside Channel 4 to further build the strong independent production sector in the city and develop new diverse talent from across the region.

"Locating our National HQ in Leeds enables us to capitalise on a strong and fast-growing independent production sector in cities across the North of England - and also has the potential to unlock growth in the North East and East of the country, an area without a major presence from other national broadcasters."

She continued: "Establishing a Creative Hub in Bristol gives Channel 4 the opportunity to build on thriving production communities in the city and to partner with Cardiff and harness the power of the wider creative industry across the South West and Wales.

"The city also put forward exciting social mobility proposals to develop talent across the wider region.

"Glasgow has a well-established production sector across multiple genres, and locating a Creative Hub in the city will give Channel 4 the opportunity to tap into the rich cultural diversity of Scotland and also allow us to exploit the city's strong connectivity with Belfast and the Northern Ireland production sector.

"The quality of pitches from all the cities involved in the final stage of the process was exceptionally high and I'd like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved for the effort and passion they put in - particularly Andy Street for Birmingham, Huw Thomas in Cardiff, and Sir Richard Leese in Greater Manchester.

"I hope we can continue discussions with all of them about how we can develop new partnerships with each of their cities - particularly since we will be spending up to £250 million more in the Nations and Regions over the next five years and want to work with producers and talent in all of these areas."

Bradford Council leaders have expressed their delight at the announcement.

Bradford has been one of the main backers for the Channel 4 to relocate to the Leeds City Region and said the announcement was testament to the work undertaken by the partnership cities, pooling their collective resources and ambitions to secure this major inward investment.

Bradford’s Screen Skills Diversity Programme will complement the relocation, helping people from across the district and the wider region to gain skills and jobs in the film and television industry. The programme is funded in part through the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool and will be led by Bradford Council in conjunction with Screen Yorkshire.

A Creative Digital Arts Industrial Centre of Excellence will provide training, apprenticeships, industry-specific work experience, careers information and advice, mentoring and bursaries linking curriculums with the specific needs of the creative sector.

Bradford, the first UNESCO City of Film, is internationally recognised as a world centre for film and television due to the district’s rich film heritage, its inspirational movie locations and its many celebrations of the moving image.

Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “I am thrilled Channel 4 have recognised the potential in our young, diverse and digitally-savvy communities and delivered a huge vote of confidence in this region by choosing to locate their national headquarters here.

“With a strong and improving transport network, a strong and outward-looking cultural offering and a high quality of life on offer, we are confident this move will prompt other creative and digital businesses to consider similar moves.

“Bradford is also delighted to lead with Screen Yorkshire, the regional Screen Skills Diversity Programme, funded in part through the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool. This will be launched early in the new year and support young people from Bradford and the wider region to have the skills, confidence and connections to forge a thriving screen industry.”

Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council said: “We are delighted that Channel 4 has chosen the Leeds City Region for their new national headquarters. Bradford, as the first UNESCO City of Film, has long been a go to location for film and television and this move will only strengthen our offer. With a national broadcaster in our region this is an ideal opportunity for national and international investment in our growing economy.

"Having the region’s Creative and Digital Arts Industrial Centre of Excellence in Bradford and Channel 4 in the Leeds City Region, will help our young people who are interested in a career in the film and television industry to reach their full potential.”

Sally Joynson, Chief Executive at Screen Yorkshire said: “We are delighted with today’s news that Channel 4 will be moving to the Leeds City Region. The relocation will also complement the work that we are doing with Bradford Council on the Screen Skills Diversity Programme.

“This initiative will help us in our priority of supporting more individuals from diverse backgrounds to forge their careers in the film & TV sector.”

David Wilson, Director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film, said: “Bradford is a fantastic place for film makers and we have seen a huge increase in film and TV production in recent years and this relocation will only help to increase this.

“Channel 4 relocating to the Leeds City Region combined with Bradford’s Screen Skills Diversity Programme is a real opportunity to create a more diverse and dynamic sector for the future.

“The skills development programme will link with the excellent training already available across the Leeds City Region at colleges and universities, and through apprenticeships. We hope the programme also inspires young people in schools across the region.”