[zakman440]

Felt that it warranted it's own thread - fantastic news!

Endemol Shine UK has been given the green light to build a major extension to the Big Brother house at Elstree Studios ahead of the new 2016 series.

In January it emerged that the production company had applied for planning permission to add almost 700 square metres of space to the house, including a 186 sqm second garden.

Bosses also wanted to transform the live show set by revamping outdoor stage and adding a brand new 144 sqm indoor studio.

Local authority Hertsmere Borough Council discussed the proposals in a meeting yesterday, and today it was confirmed that they have been granted unanimous approval by councillors.

Speaking about the plans – which received no objections from local residents – Cllr Farida Turner said: “I am very proud of the studio and they should be allowed to go through with their proposal.”

The result means that the Elstree Big Brother house will now undergo its biggest revamp since it was first built in 2002. The show was previously located at Three Mills Studios in Bow.

Despite this, the size of the overall Big Brother compound within the Elstree site will not be enlarged. As a consequence, the new outdoor set will be smaller than before, with crowd capacity being reduced from 470 people to 400.

It is understood that Endemol bosses have already dismantled the old set in preparation – but it is unclear how long construction will take, or how it will affect the schedule for this summer’s series.

Channel 5 revealed in a memo to advertisers last year that the eighteenth civilian run could begin as early as May, although it is thought that the new build could now push it back to late June.

http://www.bbspy.co.uk/bb17/news/031...#ixzz43HoFmFQc