ITV Yorkshire studios

was that studio entrance next to reception built recently, it dosen't seem to be there in older photos!

Yes you're correct.

Quite a significant bank of people trying to get the YTV situation reversed at present. ITV still says it's just mothballing them, but I think this has some way to run!

I don't think anything that's been "mothballed" has ever been reopened. No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any examples.

Are you talking generally or just TV studios? If the former, Haworth Colliery is to re-open soon, having been "mothballed" a few years ago. Although you're right, in that mothballed projects seldom see the light of day again

I'd love to think that the Leeds Studios would re-open someday, but I'm pessimistic on that front-- unless ITV's fortunes pick up pretty darn quick...

Why 'mothball' them so that they cannot be used by anyone? Why not sell the building off?

Austin Mitchell is rumoured to be lobbying Yorkshire Foward to fund some sort of production to continue at YTV; whether anything will come from that, is anyone's guess.

Otherwise it is curious as to why ITV have decided to simply suspend operations there. AIUI, the Leeds Studios were ITV's cheapest operation (perhaps somebody can confirm/deny that), so if ITV's were to pick up, it would be economically practical to re-open them?

Have you seen property prices recently? I suspect mothball is a euphemism for "close them now but wait for the property prices to go up again before we sell them"

I notice that ITV have decided not to relocate to Media City, so their North West (now their main North) base will likely remain at Granada's current location :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/mar/11/itv-keep-manchester-home

Not much of a surprise considering that Peel Holdings are a very powerful company and I bet they wanted a fair whack from ITV to use their premises. Although Quay Street is getting on a bit, it still has Coronation Street, Jeremy Kyle, Countdown and Granada News to keep it guaranteed for sometime to come. And of course any BBC Manchester Network programmes before they move to Salford.

Before Calendar moved to its present location it was made in studio2 in the main building. Where is studio 2 located in the main building?
I know that the old ATV and Southern studios were built with asbestos, does this building have the same problem? If it does this could be why ITV are mothballing the centre as they cant afford to demolish them in the present climate.

If ITV sold the Leeds studios to Box Television Ltd who run music channels such as 4Music, The Box, Kiss, Q and Kerrang, just like TVS sold Maidsone studios to the Family Channel, the studios would keep open.