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Â鶹Éç Cymru Wales has confirmed that construction on a new drama production centre will start within months, if planning consent is granted.

Menna Richards, Director of Â鶹Éç Cymru Wales, also confirmed that a site at Roath Basin in Cardiff Bay has been identified for the new production base which will bring together a range of Â鶹Éç dramas, including Doctor Who, Casualty and the Â鶹Éç's longest-running TV soap Pobol y Cwm.

"The Â鶹Éç 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," she said.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to build on the success of Â鶹Éç 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."

The drama production centre plan is part of the Â鶹Éç's commitment to double TV network production from Wales by 2016.

Currently, Â鶹Éç Wales produces drama output at two separate sites, at Llandaff in Cardiff and Upper Boat, near Pontypridd, as well as a number of locations around Wales.

The new drama centre will be central to a growing stable of network drama produced in Wales – recent productions have included the award-winning Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood.

Casualty will begin production in Wales from summer 2011.

Â鶹Éç Wales Communications