The Manchester Evening News reports today that an official application to demolish the old Coronation Street set has been submitted by developers.
Despite the public campaign to save the old set, I think we all knew it was never going to last. When developers, property and money are involved, nothing seems to stand in the way of the bulldozer.
The MEN says that "Allied London - who now own the former Granada Studios site on Quay Street - have applied for council permission to knock down stages and the set itself.
In the formal plans submitted to Manchester council, it asks permission for the ‘demolition of existing buildings and structures including Stage 1, Coronation Street set and Lot, The Stables and Stage 2 Extension’.
The current tour is set to last until the end of the year when it has been agreed ITV will return the site to the developers.
It’s unclear if any of the elements of the set - such as the Rovers Return - will be saved for ‘legacy’ use as part of the planned St John’s development.
A report released earlier this year by the council, suggested some ‘Allied London will consider what if any of the Coronation Street set could be incorporated into the future masterplan within their legal agreement with ITV and the architectural and land use strategy for any new development’.
The developers will then build nine blocks which will be used for shops, offices and apartments."
What concerns me most about the knocking down of the old set, is that nothing has been offered to fans as yet. I know I'd love an original cobble, for instance. I'd especially love Maxine's Bench, but that's another story!
Let's hope the old set won't all end up in a skip and dumped - and that the developers reach out to fans to allow them to take, or buy, a little bit of Corrie history as their own.
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