ITV's Emmerdale makes big move to secure iconic Leeds filming location
ITV makes major planning move to keep Emmerdale in Yorkshire
The makers of TV drama Emmerdale hope to continue filming on their village set after seeking permission from the council.
ITV Studios has applied to Leeds City Council to stay on the farm site in Harewood the show has occupied since 1997.
Current planning permission allows for the location, which includes the Woolpack pub and Burden Head Farm, to be used until next year.
If granted, consent from council planners would allow the site, which is popular with tourists, to be used on a permanent basis.
A planning report said the set provided a variety of exterior views and was used for more than 260 episodes each year.
It said: “The Emmerdale Village Production Set provides a facility which adapts to the ever-changing needs of production.
“These could be planned changes for certain storylines or even immediate changes due to weather conditions, cast availability or other scheduling challenges.”
ITV said continued use of the set was needed to depict farming life and the Yorkshire countryside.
Interior and exterior scenes were filmed at the Harewood site, while studio space on Kirkstall Road was used for some indoor sets including the Woolpack.
The report said: “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.”
Current planning permission would expire on June 3, 2027, with a condition requiring the site to be restored to its original condition within six months.
The report said: “Consent is therefore sought to extend operations on-site on a permanent basis.
“The continued use of the site represents a sustainable approach to production, retaining and reusing the existing set, buildings and infrastructure.”
A full planning application is out for consultation until August 13.