Written by Shona Smith on Jul 10, 2020. Posted in General Interest

Two new London studios get the go ahead

Hertsmere council to the west of London has approved a twenty-two soundstage studio called Sky Studios Eltree. In East London, Barking and Dagenham councillors approved plans for a GBP110 million new studio.

The Barking and Dagenham project was voted through unanimously by the local's council’s planning committee.

Lisa Dee, head of film at Barking and Dagenham council said “Barking and Dagenham is already a magnet for movie-makers. Two of the UK's biggest features were filmed in Dagenham last year — Black Widow by Marvel and Morbius by Sony Pictures. As London is moving a lot of work east, we are finding more crew and production workers are actually living in east, south-east and north London areas, so we're on their doorstep, which makes Dagenham Studios such a great geographical fit the next generation of creatives".

Nine months ago, the projects original backer Pacifica Ventures pulled out but the council's investment arm Be First is currently in talks with potential joint venture partners. The approved proposals include sound stages and workshops on a 22 acre former pharmaceutical factory on Yewtree Avenue and is expected to create 1,200 jobs.

To the west of London, Hertsmere Borough Council has given planning permission for the Legal and General development of Sky Studios Elstree. The new studio will consist of twelve sound stages, production offices, a set construction workshop, a screening cinema, and post-production and digital facilities.

Roger Morris, Managing Director of Elstree Studios, said “this is a major coup for the UK Creative industries at this crucial time, with major infrastructure investment, incoming production investment and substantial job creation".

The Sky Studios family includes Universal and NBC will be alongside the Borehamwood Studio Hub that includes Elstree Studios, BBC Elstree and the Elstree Studios Education and Training Academy for Film and TV.

The UK has a number of studio developments in process including Twickenham Studios and Ashford International Film Studios. The projects are meeting the increasing demand for filming in the UK from the global industry attracted by the UK tax incentive programme, experienced crews and infrastructure.