Work to start on new Coronation Street set

Coronation Street actors William Roache and Michelle Keegan led a ceremonial start to construction of the new set for the ITV soap.

The construction team led by project manager Mace Group will start the proper work in the coming weeks at the 7.7 acre site.

The new set will occupy a waterside site next to the Imperial War Museum North in Trafford. A bridge will link to the main Media City UK campus, where ITV is relocating its offices to the Orange Building from Quay Street in Manchester city centre.

On Trafford Wharf there will be a new external street film set, two sound stage buildings, production facilities, dressing rooms and meeting space for production staff and cast.

The project team includes Mace Group, quantity surveyor Arcadis, architect Jenkins Design Services, civil and structural engineer Capita Symonds Structures, services engineer Troup Bywater + Anders, acoustic consultant Hepworth Acoustics, planning consultant HOW Planning, environmental consultant ERM and system integrator AVC.

Simon Hall, construction project manager at Mace Group, said the work was commissioned as a construction management contract and not along traditional main contracting lines. Works will be procured in packages and managed by Mace on ITV's behalf.

Kevin Lygo, managing director of ITV Studios, said: "Our move to Media City UK is an historic one that will continue our commitment to the North, ensuring our longevity as the major programme maker in the region and make us a crucial part of Europe's biggest media population. It is a very exciting time."

Completion is expected in spring 2013.