Emmerdale creators make bid for permanent home as lease end looms
Emmerdale creators make bid for permanent home as lease end looms
Isobel LewisMon, July 27, 2026 at 11:37 AM UTC
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Filming has taken place at Harewood House since 1997 (ITV)
It’s one of the most recognisable locations on British TV, and now Emmerdale is seeking permission to turn its Yorkshire filming location into a permanent home.
First broadcast in 1972, ITV’s long-standing soap takes place in the titular fictional Yorkshire video, with filming take place in the area since the beginning.
While interior scenes have been shot at the Leeds studios for more than 50 years, the filming of exterior footage moved to a purpose-built set in Harewood House in West Yorkshire in 1997.
On Sunday (26 July), a planning report was released showing that ITV Studios has sought permission from Leeds City Council to turn the site on the English country home into Emmerdale’s permanent home.
Under current planning permission, Emmerdale, which shoots more than 260 episodes annually on location, can film at Harewood House until 3 June 2027. The current contract requires the site to be restored to its original condition within six months.
The location, which is owned by the Lascelles family, provides the backdrop to staple Emmerdale spots like Burden Head Farm and the Woolpack pub, with the planning report reading: “The Emmerdale Village Production Set provides a facility which adapts to the ever-changing needs of production.
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”These could be planned changes for certain storylines or even immediate changes due to weather conditions, cast availability or other scheduling challenges.”
Before Emmerdale moved to Harewood House nearly 30 years ago, exterior scenes were originally filmed in the village of Arncliffe in Littondale in north Yorkshire.
David Cameron and George Osbourne visit the 'Emmerdale' set in 2015 (Getty)
Production later moved to village of Esholt, before the set at Harewood House was opened in 1997 by prime minister John Major, and later visited by David Cameron during his own tenure as PM.
Members of the public are able to visit the set as part of the Emmerdale Village Tour; today’s set is a replica of the Esholt set, with filming also taking place on location around Leeds and Yorkshire.
ITV Studios 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 planning application is out for consultation until 13 August.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
