The makers of long‑running television drama Emmerdale have lodged a planning application with Leeds City Council seeking to keep their village production set at a farm in Harewood on a permanent basis.
What the application proposes
ITV Studios occupies the site, which includes the fictional Woolpack pub and Burden Head Farm, and has used it for both exterior and some interior filming since 1997. Current planning consent allows the location to be used until 3 June 2027, and contains a requirement that the land be restored to its original condition within six months of expiry. The new application, currently out for consultation until 13 August, would remove that time limit if approved.
Why ITV says permanence is needed
A council planning report accompanying the application notes the operational value of the site. The production set is said to provide a wide range of different external scenes and is used for more than 260 episodes each year. ITV told reporters the continued use of the Harewood location is necessary to represent farming life and the Yorkshire countryside in the programme.
“The Emmerdale Village Production Set provides a facility which adapts to the ever‑changing needs of production,”
The report adds that the site can be adjusted to meet planned storyline changes or immediate production needs such as weather or cast availability.
Local impact and practical points
The Harewood set is a visitor draw, bringing tourists who come to view the village exteriors. Any permanent planning permission would formalise a presence that has existed for nearly three decades and could influence local traffic, tourism management and land‑use plans. Leeds residents, community groups and statutory consultees have until the consultation deadline to comment on the application.
- Location: Farm site in Harewood, Leeds
- Current permission expires: 3 June 2027
- Episodes filmed at site annually: More than 260
- Consultation closes: 13 August
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Occupation of site | Since 1997 |
| Restore condition requirement | Within six months of permission expiry |
| Use on site | Exterior and some interior filming; additional studio space on Kirkstall Road used for indoor sets |
The application will be considered by Leeds City Council planners in the context of local planning policy and the views submitted during the consultation period. For residents concerned about the implications, the council’s planning portal will hold the full documents and details on how to submit representations.
As one of the region’s most recognisable television sets, the Harewood location sits at the intersection of cultural value and land‑use regulation. The council’s decision will determine whether the Emmerdale village remains a long‑term fixture of the Leeds landscape or reverts to its previous state under the terms of the current consent.
