Back in 1997, Emmerdale moved to establish its village set in Harewood, an estate within West Yorkshire that serves as its home to this day. However, the current planning permission only runs until next year.
The Ilkley Gazette reports that the show’s bosses at ITV Studios have reached out to Leeds Council in order to extend that permission, with the broadcaster looking to be granted the ability to keep using the purpose-built village on a permanent basis.
While plenty of scenes, usually interiors, are shot in ITV-owned studios, Harewood allows the soap to showcase the village community and the fact that many of characters are farmers.
ITV
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“The Emmerdale Village Production Set provides a facility which adapts to the ever-changing needs of production”, a planning report obtained by the publication reads.
“These could be planned changes for certain storylines or even immediate changes due to weather conditions, cast availability or other scheduling challenges.
“Emmerdale Village was designed to include everything a typical rural village would have, including a village hall, café, church, residential dwellings and more.
“The Emmerdale Village Production Set gives ITV Studios the unique ability to present stories that reflect a rural community, which is unique in UK television continuing drama as the other shows are urban in context.”
ITV’s application, which is under consultation under 13 August, argues that being able to retain the existing set would also be the most sustainable option.
ITV
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If the village set’s 30-year lifespan is extended, especially if it’s on the permanent basis that ITV is hoping for, then it’s a good sign for the soap’s future.
There has been some worry over what might happen to Emmerdale following Sky’s buyout of ITV, but part of the deal was “a long-term content partnership… to secure the future of many of Britain’s most-watched programmes”.
One of the shows specifically named was Emmerdale, while the “long-term” partnership is for at least five years. A further official statement explained that ITV’s show will remain free-to-air, rather than being locked behind a Sky/NOW subscription paywall.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
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