{"id":11926,"date":"2022-03-09T01:01:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T00:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1598999"},"modified":"2022-03-09T01:33:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T00:33:10","slug":"coronation-street-builds-new-weatherfield-precinct-set","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/coronation-street-builds-new-weatherfield-precinct-set\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronation Street builds new Weatherfield Precinct set"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Laura Denby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 09 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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ITV has announced grand new plans for the Coronation Street<\/a> set, in the form of a Weatherfield precinct. The news comes during the same week that the show makes a permanent move to an 8pm timeslot.<\/p>\n

The set will feature a two-storey build with maisonettes, staircase and a balcony which leads to properties, shops and a piazza. The aim is to enhance the existing set in Trafford, near Manchester, which has been the show\u2019s location since 2014.<\/p>\n

The last time Corrie embarked on a building development of such a large scale was in 2018. This saw the opening of the much-used Victoria Gardens set, along with the Speed Daal restaurant, Trim Up North salon and the Tram stop, as well as the builder\u2019s yard and the funeral parlour.<\/p>\n

Production designer Rosie Mullins-Hoyle is behind this exciting new development, and we\u2019re told construction will begin this week and will take up to six months. She said: \u201cWe are extremely excited to be starting to build Weatherfield Precinct this week after a year of technical drawings, model making, visualising and planning. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn incredible amount of research has been carried out focussing on 1960s local architecture and we are striving to create an authentic area of Weatherfield with a grittier vibe to the existing street that we know and love.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mullins-Hoyle also credits her fellow team members who are heavily involved in the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe build is being led by myself and Construction Manager Keith Eccleston and is a fantastic opportunity to use some of the amazing behind the scene talents we have on the show with bespoke joinery, scenic art work, graphic design and set dressing skills all being involved.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

\""model\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Coronation Street unveils big plans for new Weatherfield Precinct<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The new addition could be about to pave the way for new horizons for a variety of characters, she added. \u201cI cannot wait to meet the characters that may call it home and see the businesses that will be created and the storytelling potential of an old but new part of Weatherfield.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Viewers will recall hearing the local teens of Corrie heading off to the precinct for fun \u2013 or in order to get up to mischief! But until now, we\u2019ve never actually seen them there; instead we could only imagine our own local shopping centre and wonder how similar it would be in the minds eye of the soap\u2019s producers.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say it sounds like Corrie\u2019s own creation will be much more interesting than anywhere we frequent, though!<\/p>\n\n<\/tr>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Coronation Street\u2019s Executive Producer Iain MacLeod shared his own excitement for the new plans. \u201cThe fabled Weatherfield Precinct has been much discussed, but little seen on the show in our 61 years, and I am really excited to be expanding the Coronation Street universe. <\/span><\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThe plans for the shopping area are drawn directly from the real-world Salford environs that inspired the show<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s creator Tony Warren and exemplify the authenticity and ambition we still prize as we move to hour-long episodes this week.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Head of ITV and continuing drama John Whiston also spoke of the project, saying: \u201cAs we (hopefully) come out of COVID and start to stretch our dramatic legs again, it will be great to be able to play exciting new stories against a brand new backdrop. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s a testament to the confidence<\/span>\u00a0ITV has in the show that it is investing so much in our future. Mind you, I guess it won\u2019t be long before we blow it up, burn it down or crash a tram into it.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

On that note, let\u2019s hope the residents of Weatherfield get the chance to explore their new surroundings before Corrie delivers another of their notorious explosive storylines!<\/p>\n

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