Coronation Street’s new ‘Weatherfield Precinct’ set, which was announced last week, is inspired by Salford Shopping City. Take a look at these comparisons to see the resemblance the new set holds to real life.

The 2-story construction that took 9 months to build will be seen on screen on January 13th. The new Weatherfield Precinct, unveiled on December 1st, features sweetshops, a Chinese takeaway and a charity shop and much more which are all popular sites in the Salford shopping centre.

Coronation Street was first pitched by creator Tony Warren from Pendlebury, based the fictional ‘Weatherfield’ on Salford. Now, with a newly built set, the show is due to grow its resemblance to the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The set has been deliberately designed to appear as though it has been around since the 1960’s.

The ‘Gregory Pope Foundation’ charity shop likens to the All Aboard Charity Shop opened in 1987, at one of the shopping centres many entrances. The ‘Bargainanza’ and its black and yellow colour scheme look like a smaller version of the Super Extra Pound store on Hankinson Way, with the same colour scheme and similar appearance of posters on the windows.

Producer Iain MacLeod said: “Hats off to our design and construction teams who have conjured a totally convincing new precinct for our drama! They took their inspiration from Salford’s many real-world, late 20th century shopping areas and what they have created is a brilliant, characterful space to tell a diverse range of stories.

“Expect to see teens hanging out at the dessert shop, families enjoying the play area and, after dark, a rogues’ gallery, up to shady business in the ginnels. I am really excited by the arrival on screen of this much discussed but never seen corner of the Weatherfield universe.”

Designed to reflect the community it is based off, Head of Design Rosie Mullins, said: “Weatherfield Precinct was inspired by the 1960s shopping precincts that we see across many areas of the UK. In designing this the team gathered hundreds of images with a particular focus given to those in our local Manchester and Salford area.

“I wanted there to be aspects of the Precinct that people from all walks of life identify with and recognise. I wanted it to reflect how communities develop but aspects of them can also feel like stepping back in time.

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