EastEnders set expansion plans revealed after epic £87million move – including a new street

EASTENDERS bosses are hoping to expand the BBC soap’s set.

The flagship soap is getting a new backlot stage with a host of new filming locations, The Sun can exclusively reveal.

Planning documents submitted to the local council show the scale of the plans that could cost millions.

Walford bosses are hoping to add three new sets to the backlot - where the old Albert Square was.

They are planning on putting in a huge warehouse set, a parade of shops and houses and an area with nine shipping containers that will vastly expand the soap’s filming locations.

They are also going to revamp the park making good use of the old railings from the previous Albert Square set for the fencing.

And the allotment area is set to be hugely expanded giving more outdoor green space for filming.

A source revealed: “Bosses don’t want the old set to go to waste when there’s so much that can be done with it for Walford.

“It’s going to open up the soap’s world even more for more drama and more high-stakes storylines.

“Corrie and Emmerdale both have huge sets and expansions and with this there’s no danger EastEnders will be left behind.”

There had been fears the land could be sold off for profit - but bosses have assured the local community that that won’t happen.

The BBC spent a huge £87m on a new set for the show - but it was hit with delays and spiralling costs.

The former Albert Square set was built in 1984 with an intention to be used for two years and was no longer "fit for purpose," the BBC has said.

Last year, after years of delays, filming commenced on the new and improved set, including in the famous Queen Vic.

The first scenes shot on the new set aired in Spring 2022.

The investment in the BBC's longest-running TV serial drama and wider BBC Elstree Centre has enabled improved high definition filming.

It also expanded filming options, with EastEnders production now able to explore new areas on screen.

And now they are expanding once more.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “These plans are part of the continued redevelopment of the Elstree site and sit within the existing budget as set out in 2018.”