[TheRealWB]

Though we do have a fair amount set in locations away from the close with other characters in these early episodes, I don't think that was really the case during the last few months in 2003.

Perhaps more than you might imagine. I think there were whole 90 minute editions which didn't feature the Close or Parade at all, or hardly at all - by this point the interiors of both were being used by Hollyoaks, which continued for some time after Brookside finished (hence the Close only turning up on the market 5 years or so later). It's possible there's still some Parade heritage in some of Hollyoaks sets? I believe La Luz/Bar Brookie became some sort of student union bar?

Not sure on the interiors but you can still clearly see some of the blue paintwork from the parade above what I believe is now the A&E in the show if you're local to the area and know where to look.

youtu.be 

Not the best video but you can kind of get an idea of were the parade was here, the basic outline of the buildings is still there, with some sort of garden area where the petrol station was. This was also in 2018, so things might have changed since. I'm tempted to get up there with my own drone and see what's what - potential project when I'm off work next week