Emmerdale breaks silence amid fears village set will be demolished

| Soaps Reporter Published November 13, 2026 10:33am Updated November 13, 2026 10:33am The soap previously filmed in just fields (Picture: ITV/Metro) Emmerdale has responded to fans amid fears the soap’s outdoor set will be demolished. Back in the summer, bosses at ITV Studios applied to make the land the soap is filmed on theirs to use permanently, due to the fact the current agreement will end in 2027. It was assumed that the application would be easy to secure, however, due to the fact the decision was expected to be reached in August and hasn’t happened yet, viewers have been left concerned. Emmerdale submitted the request to Leeds City Council earlier this year, noting the positive impact of filming in West Yorkshire, and stated that moving would seriously impact the environment. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If permission to make the set permanent is not granted, ITV Studios would demolish the entire village backdrop, forcing the soap to return to filming in just fields. Following concern from viewers, Emmerdale shared a statement to Metro about the news: ‘ITV Studios has filmed the external scenes for Emmerdale from a purpose built set on the Harewood Estate in Leeds since 1997 and it is a significant contributor to the creative economy in Leeds and across the whole of the north of England and beyond. The village sets could be demolished (Picture: ITV) ‘As part of a routine planning application, we are in discussion with Leeds City Council and look forward to many more years of filming from the set.’ A few months ago, rumours began circulating that Emmerdale could be axed after 53 years following the news Sky had bought ITV. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The transaction between ITV and Sky brings two of the most trusted and complementary media organisations together to create a stronger media business. Once the completion has happened, ITV channels and ITVX will remain free-to-air. Audiences will continue to enjoy programmes they know and love, alongside the national and regional news. Fans feared that Emmerdale would soon be axed (Picture: ITV) As part of the deal, the future of the soap has been secured. ‘TV fan favourites are here to stay’, a quote direct from Sky reads. ‘We’ve agreed a long-term content partnership with ITV studios, to secure the future of many of Britain’s most-watched programmes, including Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Love Island, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, This Morning, Lorraine and Loose Women.’ Deals of the Day 14,500 five-star reviews later, this cult sleep spray is discounted for Black Friday Cold mornings are coming and this is the dressing gown I want to live in We're adding this discounted NEOM gift set straight to basket Want an LED face mask for less? This Black Friday deal could save you hundreds This teeth whitening sale could save you up to 64% before Black Friday Something worth noting though is that content on ITV itself could gradually move behind a paywall. However, the company’s public service broadcasting licence states that they must provide free-to-air service until at least 2034. Arrow MORE: When are Coronation Street and Emmerdale on as ITV drops soaps on Friday? Arrow MORE: ‘It’s a nightmare’: Coronation Street star’s dismay at serious hair loss Arrow MORE: Coronation Street clarifies star’s ‘slip of the tongue’ over missing Audrey The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.