'Casualty' heading to new BBC Wales centre

BBC Wales has unveiled plans to create a new TV production centre which will be used to film dramas such as Casualty and Doctor Who.

The corporation expects construction work at the designated Roath Basin site in Cardiff Bay to start within the next six months, reports BBC News.

Director of the project Menna Richards revealed that the centre will house a number of different shows including Casualty, which is transferring to Cardiff from its long-running home of Bristol.

Last year, the BBC confirmed that the hospital drama would be moving to Wales as part of efforts to double the quantity of network TV production in the country by 2016.

"The BBC has confirmed it is to build a drama centre at Roath Basin in Cardiff Bay and has reached agreement with key partners to complete the site, subject to planning consent," said Richards.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to build on the success of BBC Wales drama production and the wider creative industries in Wales.

"We look forward to welcoming the cast and crew of the enormously successful Casualty to this new centre of excellence to work side-by-side with the other award-winning dramas which are already made in Wales."

When it starts filming in Wales next year, Casualty will join fellow BBC shows Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood in the country's growing production operation.

The new Roath Basin production centre will consolidate current sites at Llandaff in Cardiff and Upper Boat, near Pontypridd, along with various other locations around Wales.

Deputy First Minister Ieaun Wyn Jones confirmed that the Welsh Assembly Government is working closely with BBC Wales and Cardiff City Council on the construction project.

"Crucially, when operational it should also play a vital role in terms of creating sustainable jobs supported by training and skills provision and prosperity - which is central to my vision of bringing about economic renewal in Wales," he said.

"The drama production centre plan is part of the BBC's commitment to double television network production from Wales by 2016.

"The wider development will enable other players within the creative industries sector to benefit from the creation of a new strategic hub in the Welsh capital."