ALTHOUGH it has been mentioned in the past, the Coronation Street precinct has never been seen on screens before.
However, this is about to change, as construction begins behind the scenes of the ITV soap.
When will the Weatherfield precinct be on Coronation Street?
As drama continues in the cobbles with characters like Lydia Chambers wreaking havoc and Abi Franklin unexpectedly giving birth, change is also incoming off-screen.
After a new timeslot for the long-running drama, the Corrie set is expanding to show off a grittier side of Weatherfield, worlds apart from the iconic Rovers Inn.
The Weatherfield precinct may sound familiar to many viewers as it has already been mentioned in dialogues between characters on numerous occasions.
Artist impressions – revealed March 9 as construction begins – show a two-storey construction and should feature maisonettes, a staircase and balcony leading to properties.
Coronation Street bosses have also teased a piazza and several local shops.
Construction on the precinct, begins this week (March 9, 2022) and it is expected to take six months to complete.
While a debut date is yet to be confirmed, some eager fans could expect the precinct to appear for the first time on screens by the end of the year at the earliest.
Production designer Rosie Mullins-Hoyle said: "We are extremely excited to be starting to build Weatherfield Precinct this week after a year of technical drawings, model making, visualising and planning."
"An incredible amount of research has been carried out focusing 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."
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Where is Coronation Street filmed?
The set development will be added to the purpose-built 7.7 acre site in MediaCityUK, which has been used for filming since 2014.
Loyal viewers of the beloved soap must know that, for the past eight years, Coronation Street has been filmed on the canalside in Trafford, in Greater Manchester.
Prior to this, the show was filmed in the old Granada Studios on Quay Street in Manchester.
The city is also where events of the show have been set on-screen, more particularly in the fictional town of Weatherfield.
Producer Iain MacLeod celebrated the beginning of the brand new project saying: "The fabled Weatherfield Precinct has been much discussed, but little seen on the show in our 61 years."
"I am really excited to be expanding the Coronation Street universe."
Iain added that "the plans for the shopping area are drawn directly from the real-world Salford environs that inspired the show's creator Tony Warren."
But will the precinct ever be open for visits?
Can you visit the set?
The Weatherfield precinct could be available for fans to discover first-hand, much like the rest of the Coronation Street set.
As of 2022, the fictional world of Weatherfield and the set at MediaCityUK is still open for visits, as confirmed on the ITV website.
Visits last for 90 minutes and take place in the exterior sets of Coronation Street, Rosamund Street as well as the newly extended Victoria Street.
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Much like other similar experiences, the cobbles were temporarily closed off to members of the public due to the Covid pandemic.
The tour was re-opened in 2022 and operates on weekends, starting from Saturday, March 12, 2022.
Visits can already be booked online from March to the beginning of May, 2022, and fans can expect dates to be expanded throughout the year.
Should any fan consider visiting later in the year, they have the opportunity to register their interest by adding their email address to an online form.
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