EastEnders to have £15 Million Makeover at Licence Payer's Expense

Albert Square is set to have a £15 million make over.

It was revealed that the BBC is planning to spend licence payer's money on renovating the set of the popular soap.

The project codenamed E20 will see the current set, built in 1984, demolished and rebuilt from scratch at the BBC's studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

The corporation was accused of trying to hide the cost of the work which was revealed in a secret tender document.

The document said that a sum 'in excess of £15million' would be spent on replicating and reconstructing the 'weathered and damaged building/structure facades.'

It will also pay for a temporary set as specialist designers and architects commence work on a permanent home for the show.

The cost was criticised by Tory MP Rob Wilson, who questioned the amount of money the BBC spends on its huge property portfolio.

"Why is the existing set so unsuitable that they need to fork out £15million on a replacement?" he asked.

A BBC spokesman said: "EastEnders is hugely important to licence fee payers. This is purely a tender document to give an indication of the scale of the project."

EastEnders executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins last month revealed he wants the new Albert Square to "reflect the modern world."

The new set will include a new high street and police station which show bosses said would allow "greater editorial ambition and improved working conditins for staff."