Written by on Jun 5, 2015. Posted in On Location

Screen Yorkshire to develop adapted film studio in northern England

Screen Yorkshire is setting up an adapted film studio to boost northern England’s production appeal. Yorkshire is regularly used as a filming location – mainly for UK shoots – and has recently doubled for London in A Royal Night Out, and as Belfast for the taut war drama ’71.

Yorkshire Studios encompasses three former RAF hangars spanning 440 acres midway between Leeds and York. The facility also offers offices, garages, workshops and extensive parking.

Productions filming in Yorkshire can access the Yorkshire Content Fund, which is backed with GBP 15 million from the European Regional Development Fund, making it the largest regional fund of its kind in the UK.

“The opening of Yorkshire Studios is a significant landmark for the UK film and TV industry,” said Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire: “The Yorkshire Content Fund has enabled us to secure some incredible projects that have made great use of our existing portfolio of studio space.

“The lack of a larger-scale production facility, however, has prevented a number of major long-term film and TV productions from basing themselves here. These productions hold huge potential for sustaining the industry’s infrastructure and workforce, so it became clear that securing such a site should be a priority.’’

The opening of Yorkshire Studios is a significant landmark for the UK film and TV industry.

Sally Joynson, Screen Yorkshire

Productions supported by the Yorkshire Content Fund over the past year have included the First World War memoir Testament Of Youth, a new film adaptation of the classic British sitcom Dad’s Army and the BBC’s epic period fantasy Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

Creative England services filming outside London and this week reported a 54% increase in production inquiries for shoots around England compared to the previous financial year.

Eighty-four separate features shot in the past year have included Hollywood studio productions Tarzan, Pan, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.

These shoots were all based in London but also shot location work in locations outside the capital.

“It’s fantastic to see Creative England's Production Services team, now in its fourth year, growing in reputation and momentum, resulting in this massive increase in production’s using the service,” said Kaye Elliott, Head of Production Services at Creative England.

“We look forward to another bumper year supporting production and continuing to champion the fantastic infrastructure, crew, facilities and locations on offer across the English regions.”

(Images: BBC)