ITV Seeks to Continue Emmerdale Set Tours in New Plan
ITV Studios applied to Leeds City Council to keep Emmerdale Village Tours running — 42,000 visitors and £7.72m a year. Consultation ends Nov 13, 2026.
ITV Seeks to Continue Emmerdale Set Tours in New Plan
By the TechGamer App Review Team | Published: October 29, 2026 | Updated: October 29, 2026
Disclosure: Independent news report based on ITV Studios' planning application as covered by BBC News, Leeds Live, Yahoo News and Digital Spy. No affiliation with ITV Studios or Leeds City Council.
Quick Answer
ITV Studios has filed a planning application with Leeds City Council to keep the Emmerdale Village Tour running after its current planning permission expires. The tours bring 42,000+ visitors a year to the Harewood set and generate roughly £7.72 million annually for the local economy. The application — open for public consultation until November 13, 2026 — also proposes removing the coach-travel requirement, letting visitors arrive by car, bike, on foot, or via a nearby bus stop. If approved, the tour continues; if refused, the behind-the-scenes experience that has run for over a decade could end.
What ITV Is Asking For
The application is a full change of use request covering the two-hour guided tour experience at the Emmerdale production set in Harewood, near Leeds. Its key elements:
| Element | Detail |
| Applicant | ITV Studios |
| Council | Leeds City Council |
| Application type | Full change of use planning application |
| Consultation deadline | November 13, 2026 |
| Current tour capacity | Two coaches in rotation, max two tours per hour |
| Proposed change | Remove coach-travel requirement — visitors travel direct to site |
| Proposed access | Car, bicycle, public footpath, or nearby bus stop collection |
| Visitor numbers | 42,000+ per year (BBC reports 40,000+) |
| Economic impact | ~£7.72m gross visitor expenditure per year |
| Operating history | 10+ years of tours |
Why This Matters to Fans
The Emmerdale Village Tour is one of the UK's most established TV set experiences — Tripadvisor ratings sit at 4.7 from nearly 6,000 reviews, with recent visitors calling the 2026 version of the tour a clear improvement over previous years. Visitors see the exterior core set of the fictional village, home of the Dingle family, and go behind the scenes of a show that has aired since October 1972 and is watched in 120 countries.
For tour-goers, the practical change is significant: no more mandatory coach transfer. Under current conditions, two coaches operate in rotation to keep tours at a maximum of two per hour. The new application lets visitors drive, cycle, walk the public footpath, or get collected from a nearby bus stop — cutting out the coach leg entirely.
The Wider ITV Emmerdale Plan
The tour application is not a one-off. ITV has also lodged a separate application to permanently film the show at Stub House and Burdon Head Farm on Harrogate Road, with the current consent there due to expire in June 2027. Together, the two applications secure the show's long-term production footprint in Yorkshire — both the filming locations and the visitor economy built around them.
What Happens Next
- Public consultation — runs until November 13, 2026; residents and fans can submit comments to Leeds City Council.
- Council assessment — planners will weigh the application against local planning policy, traffic impact (the change removes coach movements), and the site's established use.
- Decision — if approved, the tour continues under the new access arrangements; ITV has stated the application is not intended to boost visitor numbers.
- The existing permission — tours continue under current approval while the application is processed.
Common Questions From Visitors
- Can I still book the tour now? Yes — the tour operates under its current planning permission; the application concerns what happens after it lapses.
- Does this change ticket prices? No pricing changes are part of the application.
- Will tours get bigger? ITV explicitly says the application is not intended to increase visitor numbers — the change is about how visitors arrive, not how many.
- What if the council refuses? The tour's future would then depend on ITV appealing or renegotiating terms — with £7.7m a year at stake for the local economy, both sides have strong incentives to find agreement.
FAQ
What has ITV applied for?
A full change of use planning application to Leeds City Council to continue running the Emmerdale Village Tour at the Harewood set after the current planning permission expires, plus removal of the coach-travel requirement.
When does the public consultation close?
November 13, 2026.
How many people visit the Emmerdale set each year?
Over 42,000 visitors annually, generating approximately £7.72 million in gross visitor expenditure for the local tourism economy.
How long have the Emmerdale set tours been running?
More than 10 years, per the planning report submitted with the application.
How will visitors get to the tour if the application is approved?
By car, bicycle, the public footpath, or by collection from a nearby bus stop — replacing the current two-coach rotation system.
Is ITV also securing the filming locations?
Yes — a separate application seeks permanent filming rights at Stub House and Burdon Head Farm on Harrogate Road, where current consent expires in June 2027.
Will the tour get bigger if this is approved?
ITV states the application is not intended to boost visitor numbers. The proposal changes arrival methods, not capacity.