ITV seeks to continue Emmerdale set tours

The producers of Emmerdale are hoping to continue its popular visitor tours which generate millions of pounds a year.

The set of the Yorkshire-based soap in Harewood, Leeds, attracts more than 40,000 visitors a year and fans can see behind the scenes of the fictional Emmerdale village, home to the famous Dingle family.

ITV Studios has applied to Leeds City Council to continue the two-hour experience after the current planning permission expires and requested that visitors can also arrive by bike or on foot.

Emmerdale has been running since October 1972 and is watched by millions of people in 120 countries.

According to the planning report, the tours contribute £7.7m a year to the local tourist economy and have been running for more than 10 years.

The report said: "The Emmerdale Village Tour is a popular tourist attraction.

"It provides fans of the popular television continuing drama the opportunity to visit the exterior, particularly the core set at Emmerdale Village."

The report also said visitors could access the tour via car, bicycle, a public walking route or collection from a nearby bus stop, removing the need for coach travel.

"Two coaches operate in rotation to facilitate the maximum of two tours per hour whilst allowing for reasonable boarding, alighting and travel between locations, in line with the planning conditions.

"This application seeks to remove the requirement for coach travel as visitors will travel direct to site."

Separately, ITV has already lodged a separate application to permanently film the show at Stub House and Burdon Head Farm, on Harrogate Road, after consent runs out next June, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A full change of use planning application is out for consultation until 13 November.

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