If there's one thing that differentiates Emmerdale from its counterparts, it's the sprawling, 11-acre 'backlot' set that the soap has filmed on since January 1998.
Fans who have been watching since the very beginning will know that there have been three versions of the village since 1972.
For the soap's first four years, the tiny Yorkshire hamlet of Arncliffe doubled as Beckindale – as it was then known – before filming moved to the larger settlement of Esholt.
Production constraints and the swathes of viewers descending on the real-life location forced ITV to construct a purpose-built replica on private land at the Harewood Estate in the late '90s. Planning permission allowed them to stay there for just 10 years – though it was later agreed to extend this by another two decades.
As it stands, this agreement ends on 3 June 2027, at which point the entire site will have to be reinstated to its original baseline.
The façades of every house and business, as well as barns, sheds, shipping containers, production buildings and even footpaths and roads, would have to be cleared.
The only exception is Stub House Farm and its outbuildings, which double as Holdgate Farm (Jai Sharma's residence) and Wishing Well Cottage (better known as the Dingles' gaff) – these are original buildings which predate Emmerdale's time at Harewood.
ITV are, naturally, seeking to renew this planning permission. In public documents submitted to Leeds City Council that have been seen by Radio Times, the broadcaster hopes to retain usage of the site on a permanent basis, not only to secure the future of the programme, but also to provide continuity to viewers.
They've also cited a number of environmental concerns that would occur if they were forced to move.
A nearby farmhouse, Burden Head, which is at the entrance of the access road to the fictional village, has most recently doubled as the groundsman cottage at Home Farm, and was previously used as the Welsh holiday cottage that Tom King (James Chase) took his then-wife Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) to in 2024.
Adjoining barns double as the fictional Emmerdale Farm, Home Farm Stables and warehouse of Caleb Miligan International.
Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed that the majority of external scenes at these locations are restricted to here, and that the real-life locations that were once used are scarcely seen nowadays.
"A change of use at Burden Head Farmstead, which due to its size can be utilised as a swing-set, providing flexibility for the production operations on-site, whilst providing a long-term use for these existing buildings and reducing the need to travel to off-site locations for exterior shots," the supporting planning documentation reads.
Using these buildings will significantly reduce Emmerdale's carbon footprint.
This was addressed in an earlier planning document, which sought permission to retain the façade that doubles as The Hide restaurant – which will soon become Robert Sugden's (Ryan Hawley) Smokehouse.
"A relocation of this set away from the Emmerdale Village would have a big impact on our carbon footprint as cast, crew and all the facility vehicles listed above would need to travel to different locations," a document reads.
"Mobile generators would also be required to power temporary facilities giving rise to potential noise issues and harming the neighbouring community.
"Keeping the set permanently allows us to work within our existing land agreement and on track to achieve our ITV net zero 2030 climate action strategy."
The broadcaster's strategy is tobecome a net zero carbon business by 2030, with targets including a 90 per cent reduction in all emissions by 2050.
ITV have also consulted Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on their proposals, with planning ecologist Tim Stratton providing a letter of support.
"YWT are in alignment with the Landscape Team in that we also view the proposed [...] as being a positive proposal and support the Landscape Team's request that further buffer planting should also be provided along the access track to the west of Stub House, to minimise disturbance related impacts on the surrounding environment."
A further report looks into the woodland, horticulture, grassland, rivers and streams that line the site. It also recognised a number of notable and protected species living there; bats, barn owls, red kites and brown hares.
An overall decision has yet to be made, and although there have been some public objections raised in the consultation process, which ended on Tuesday 3 November, it's likely that the permissions sought will be approved due to the lack of issues they've have been raised over the last 30 years.
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Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
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