Two famous TV soaps' sets look likely to be demolished in announcements made within a few days of each other.
 
A long-running campaign seems to have failed to save the set of Coronation Street in Manchester from demolition by Allied London as part of the planned St John's property development to be built on the old Granada studios Quay Street site. 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'. Coronation Street's new home is now at MediaCityUK, for which reclaimed materials were supplied.
 
English Heritage (now Historic England) stated that there was 'no architectural heritage value attached to the set' and 'no elements that are worthy of special consideration' despite the old reclaimed bricks, setts, roof materials which could and should be reclaimed, not only saving heritage materials but also saving probably 100 tonnes or more of carbon emissions. But Historic England has expressed no interest in saving reusable heritage materials or helping to reduce carbon emissions.
 
Meanwhile further south, the BBC announced plans to demolish Albert Square, in north London's Elstree Studios, Eastender's home since 1985, to make way for a bigger version more suitable for HD TV to make way for new shops, a high street and a new underground station, as well as houses made out of brick at the same location. Documents seen by The Mail on Sunday were submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council last month and reveal the BBC is keen to create a new Albert Square to 'achieve a quality and character of finish to accommodate high-definition technology film recording'. The BBC's current intention is that following completion, the existing EastEnders set will be demolished. The EastEnders set is to be rebuilt. Part of the plan was to build a temporary set so the current set could be demolished and rebuilt whilst filming continues.
 
So far, no protest movement appears to have arisen against the Albert Square demolition and redevelopment, nor has Historic England expressed an opinion.
 
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Please let us know if you supplied materials for either set, or are prepared to buy materials prior to demolition.