A specialist consultancy, design, engineering and management services company, Arcadis UK has announced it is to begin cost management and quantity surveying services for ITV's new production facility at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, Manchester.

The project includes the development of a bespoke production and studio centre for TV soap, Coronation Street.

This will house an exact replica of the Coronation Street film set on which all subsequent episodes will be filmed, as well as a modern, creative hub of TV studios, two sound stage buildings, specialist production suites, news facilities and actors' dressing rooms.

The investment coincides with Coronation Street's 50th anniversary this year.

The 'standalone' site is situated alongside the historic Manchester Ship Canal on a 7.7-acre plot at Trafford Wharf.


It will include a new external film set - built to greater scale than before to equip the soap for the demands of future broadcasting developments, whilst also faithfully replicating the original appearance of the fictional location of Weatherfield.

The scheme will be accessed by a new bridge across the waterway to the main MediaCityUK complex and construction will begin on site during the first quarter of 2011 and is due for completion in the second quarter of 2012.

"We are really pleased to be involved in one of the most prestigious and high-profile schemes currently in the region," explained Russell Bolton, Director Buildings, Arcadis UK.

"We have been working with ITV to plan this move in the region for a number of years so we have already developed a close working relationship with the client and are ready to get started immediately."

Adam Crozier, Chief Executive ITV plc, said: "ITV is already one of the UK's biggest investors in original content and as we progress our Transformation Plan which is focused on growing our national and international production and broadcasting business, it is vital that we have a modern, fit-for-purpose, creative hub outside of London.

"Coronation Street is an incredible brand and as we celebrate its 50th anniversary, it's fantastic news that we are able to invest in the construction of a modern production centre to ensure that the nation's best loved soap remains at the top of its game for another half a century," he said.

(BMcC)