Emmerdale plans for tours of Harewood House location

The maker of TV soap Emmerdale has submitted plans for visitor tours of its location set in the grounds of Harewood House.

The programme built the permanent set representing a Yorkshire village on the estate, north of Leeds, in 1998.

The application, by the estate and ITV, to Leeds City Council, proposes weekend tours by up to two coach loads of visitors an hour.

No new development is planned at the site, which lies on green belt land.

The proposed tours would contribute to the tourism economy, said the council report.

Harewood House's grounds are Grade I listed.

The planning proposal was submitted in 2014 and amended in June.

The Open Spaces Society, The Ramblers Association and the Leeds Local Access Forum, objected to the proposal because of effects on bridleway users.

The popular soap also films indoor scenes at studios near Leeds city centre.

The plans are to be considered by councillors on Thursday.