VTR North has revealed plans to open a new 3,000 sq ft post house in Manchester.

The Leeds-based post-production company plans to spend £500,000 on the city centre finishing facility, which will have a Flame Premium visual effects suite, a graphics studio and a 5.1 dubbing theatre.

VTR Manchester, which will be managed by company founders Chris Birks and Carl Walters, is set to open in April.

Walters said the arrival of BBC North and the city’s “booming” commercials sector meant there was major demand for high-end finishing.

“We’ve always had one eye on Manchester,” he said.

“Leeds has been good to us and will continue to be our home but Manchester is a bigger market that offers more opportunities.

“We don’t want to take over the world but if we want to grow the business, then opening a boutique finishing facility in Manchester seems like a natural progression,” he said.

“The BBC won’t have a great deal of finishing capabilities in-house so we’ll be able to offer them the same comfortable, creative environment that commercials producers will enjoy,” added Birks.

Birks and Walters said they decided to open on John Dalton Street in Manchester city centre rather than at MediaCityUK to avoid being pigeon holed as as just providing finishing for the BBC.

“Being in central Manchester allows us to service BBC North and the rest of MediaCityUK but, importantly, also allows us to be within walking distance of Manchester’s biggest agencies.”

VTR Manchester will employ eight people when fully operational.

VTR North, which was established in 2005, provides post-production and visual effects services for advertising and television clients.