They are both famous for their cobbled streets and cosy northern charm – but Coronation Street and Hovis are at loggerheads over plans to make them neighbours.
TV execs hope to build a new Coronation Street at MediaCityUK in Trafford Wharf, across the road from the bakery’s HQ.
Designs for the TV set, which are part of a Granada move from Quay Street in the city centre, are due to go before planners this week. But Hovis is opposing ITV’s plans amid fears over noise and traffic. Owners Premier Foods have submitted a formal objection to Trafford council.
According to the planning application, Hovis trucks already struggle to get in and out of the building when United play at nearby Old Trafford.
If filming were to happen seven days a week, that would cause major congestion, the firm claims. "Should the ITV development come forward and operate at weekends, it is possible that this problem could be exacerbated," Hovis claims in a letter of objection.
The bakery is asking ITV to reconsider its plans.
The company is also concerned that it could be the subject of complaints from Corrie over noise levels during filming.
Although ITV has promised to take responsibility for soundproofing its set and to let its new neighbours carry on as usual, Hovis are not convinced.
The objection adds: "Premier Foods request the certainty that their operations, which can be noisy, will not be compromised by future complaints from ITV to the council in future. Until a noise survey is submitted in this respect they object to the application."
Greater Manchester Police has also raised concerns about fans and photographers cluttering up the road and causing traffic problems, the application shows. But council officers are recommending the plan is granted subject to a list of conditions.
As we revealed in December, the new Corrie set will be bigger and better than its predecessor at Granada studios.
The replica set, including the Rover's Return, will have larger buildings so the soap can film in HD and use other cutting-edge technology.
It will feature five studios, a 400-space car park and will be staffed by 170 people.
The planning row is the second problem to have surfaced since plans for the move to MediaCityUK were announced.
As revealed in the M.E.N. last month, developers working on plans for the new site were warned they could have to disable Second World War bombs before building work starts.
Hovis and ITV declined to comment.
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lets hope their objection is brown bread, this is a redicules objection, what noise??? what parking?? what traffic?? its a backroad industrial estate not a houseing estate.
clearly you dont travel through that neck of the woods very often unlike me! Why would you think a housing estate is more quiet than an INDUSTRIAL estate! do cars make more noise than HGV's now? what a donk statement!! p.s redicules is spelt ridiculous.
Hovis are not complaining about potential noise from Grandad, but that the noise from their operations will prove disprutive to Granda, whi will them attempt to force them to do something about it.
It may sound silly but has happened, on a rather smaller scale, in Manchester city centre, when residents of new developments have complained about noise emanating from businesses their prior to construction, and forced them to undertake costly modifications.
The traffic argument seems less real, especially comparing the new studio to a Manchester United home game, which seems to bring much of TP to a standstill for hours.
Its a pity Hovis dont ask their lorry drivers to be more considerate rather than letting them tear r's around the streets.
Looks like Coronation Street might win something, Yay !!!
Granada could consider staying at Quay Street. You know, where it BELONGS?
C,mon people, Use your loaf, there,s a lot of bread to be made here man!