ITV Studios Invests in Leeds Complex

LONDON: ITV Studios is making a £5 million investment in its Kirkstall Road studios in Leeds, to provide HD facilities for the production of the long-running soap Emmerdale.

The Emmerdale production center is currently located on Burley Road, but due to new digital technologies being introduced, the facilities now need considerable updating. The decision has been made by ITV to put investment back into the original main building, which has the foundation of purpose-built studio facilities. The work will start in 2010 and it is expected to take up to 12 months to complete.

Lee Bartlett, the managing director of ITV Studios, told the Emmerdale team in Leeds: “This investment is about safeguarding the future of Emmerdale. Giving this highly respected production team and cast an up-to-date, modern, purpose-built facility, is key to enhancing the quality of our production many years into the future.”

He added: “Few cities outside London can boast production of three hours of prime-time top-rated drama every week, and this team deserves the best possible environment in which to work and operate. I’m thrilled that we have secured the funding to make this happen.”

ITV currently operates out of six different buildings in the Kirkstall Road complex.