The building has been used by the BBC since at least 1953. For a long period, the upper floors were occupied by the BBC's Engineering Designs Department,[2] with the ground floor being occupied firstly by a car showroom and latterly being used for the BBC's Recorded Sound Effects Library.[3] During this period, the building became the UK base for the first transatlantic colour television satellite communications.[4] The BBC Engineering Designs Department was restructured in the late 1980s and subsequently vacated Western House in 1987.
Following extensive renovation in the early to mid-2000s, its main use from 2006 to 2024 was as the base of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music,[5] although it also housed several smaller radio studios for use by other BBC stations[6] as well as a gym, bar and bistro for use by members of the BBC Club and guests.[7]
On 2 November 2022, it was announced that the BBC would be moving out of the building, relocating Radio 2 and 6 Music back to BBC Broadcasting House, by spring 2024.[8] The final 6 Music show from the building, hosted by Gideon Coe, was broadcast on 11 February 2024. The final Radio 2 show, and radio show from the building altogether, was hosted by Paul Gambaccini, on 18 February 2024. After reflecting on notable resident DJs of Wogan House, Gambaccini quoted playwright Arthur Miller: "all that's left are memories of voices in the air". The final song played for BBC Radio 2 in the studio was The Floral Dance, sung by Terry Wogan.
