First phase complete at BBC drama village

The first phase of construction work on the new BBC Wales drama production village in Cardiff Bay has been completed.

Last June, work began at the new site at Roath Basin, near Cardiff, which will eventually house productions of Welsh drama Pobol y Cwm, along with Casualty, Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures. It will also provide a base for a range of creative media firms in Wales.

According to BBC News, the final section of concrete floor will be laid in a "topping out" ceremony later today marking the completion of the first phase of work.

Those attending the ceremony will include outgoing BBC Wales director Menna Richards, Welsh heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones, Cardiff council leader Rodney Berman, and Mark Hallett of site developers igloo Regeneration.

At 170,000 square feet (15,800 square metres), the drama village site is the size of three football pitches and will feature fully fitted studios and office space. Filming is due to begin for Pobol y Cwm and Casualty at the site this autumn.

Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures will move from their studio base near Pontypridd to the new site next year. The first episode of Casualty produced in Wales will be on screens in early 2012.