West 10 LDN is based on short stories by Courttia Newland, and has been developed by Kidulthood director Menhaj Huda and writer Noel Clarke, with Life on Mars producers Kudos in association with Stealth Films.
Set on the Greenside estate in west London, it delves into the lives of the teenagers who live there, covering the drugs, family issues, violence and relationships they experience.
The 60-minute piece also stars Clarke (Doctor Who, Kidulthood) alongside Ashley Walters (Hustle, Bullet Boy), and Ashley Madekwe (Drop Dead Gorgeous).
Clarke said: "I don't think it's exaggerating to say there's never been anything like this on TV before. And yet there are elements of this world that are familiar to a whole generation, and the themes themselves – of survival, of love, of family – are universal. Courttia's book is so powerful and moving, I'm really hoping the script does it justice."
The drama has been commissioned by Danny Cohen, controller of BBC Three, and Jane Tranter, controller of BBC Fiction. Filming started last week in West London and will be broadcast early next year.
