Latest news with #NorthernStudios
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hartlepool film and TV studio expansion plan submitted
Planning applications to expand a film and TV production village have been is hoped the expansion of Northern Studios in Hartlepool and creation the Screen Industries Production Village will bolster the north-east of England's film-making development would see a number of derelict buildings surrounding Northern Studios brought back into use to create pre and post production to planning permission, work is likely to begin in a matter of months, Hartlepool Borough Council said. The town already has a foundation to build on having been used to produce feature film Jackdaw, the BBC comedy Smoggie Queens and ITV East Screen chief executive Alison Gwynn said the development of the studios will allow the region to attract more productions."The North East continues to be the fastest growing region for TV and film, and projects like this will only strengthen our ability to host global productions," she said. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
How Hartlepool film production village is set to reshape the town
A new film production village will bolster the north-east of England's reputation as a centre for the screen industry, while boosting its economy and regenerating a town, it is village is planned for Hartlepool and aims to provide film makers with everything they need to make a movie or TV show without having to leave the to the Northern Studios, Hartlepool already has a foundation to build on and has been used to produce feature film Jackdaw, the BBC comedy Smoggie Queens and ITV North East Screen chief executive Alison Gwynn said expanding the studios and creating the village meant Hartlepool could "attract bigger productions with bigger budgets". "The production village gives us a real opportunity to be a bit more dynamic and future facing in terms of where the industry's is going," she said."One thing to think about is how that links up with digital and podcasts and music and the future development of content - not just linear TV." A consultation on the development plans for the village is under way and if approved will consist of two main first is the extension of the Northern Studios on Lynn Street, which is being funded by £15m from the Tees Valley Investment second is the production of the wider village across the Lynn Street and Whitby Street area, which has received £16.5m from the Levelling Up Borough Council leader Brenda Harrison said the campus area would span 300sq m (3,230sq ft) and be located near the Northern School of Art and the local college."There are 10 buildings going to be used and these are derelict buildings at the moment. So we're bringing them back to life," she said."It's to do with the whole regeneration of that area." Raising the roof Ms Gwynn said Northern Studios was the only dedicated studio space in the North East but since it was established the industry has changed."The growth in the sector in the region has been bigger and quicker than anybody could ever have imagined and actually the studios now need to be bigger," she they are only able to accommodate one production at a time but the expansion will allow space for a roof of the studio will also be raised to allow larger productions to use the Gwynn said the changes would ensure Hartlepool was not just a "one trick pony" but could cater to different types of productions, such as pilots and quiz shows with live said the region had previously missed out on some of these productions, including a quiz show being made with County Durham business woman and Dragons' Den star Sara Davies."She's currently making an ITV quiz show in Manchester," said Ms Gwynn."She would have loved to have made that show in the North East and have a North East audience in it but the studio right now just isn't big enough." Jobs and training About 130 jobs are expected to be created once the development is completed in council leader Harrison also believes the village's proximity to the town's colleges will have an impact on young people."It will be a great benefit to students, both while they're doing their courses and hopefully post-course when the jobs will be there for them," she said."By linking with the colleges the production village will benefit from their views and skills and be able to prepare them for the future."Many productions currently only use Hartlepool for the actual filming of their projects as the facilities for pre and post-production work are not currently film village aims to bring these facilities, such as costume designers and editing suites, to the area so crews do not need to leave. These will be located in the newly renovated Gwynn also believes the village will provide opportunities for businesses which may not have considered themselves able to work with the film said having a strong film sector would require a host of professionals such as caterers, accountants, graphic designers, joiners and painters."These businesses already exist in the region, they just hadn't thought a screen industry customer was on the radar for them," she said. Creating a cluster Hartlepool is not the only area in the North East attempting to boost its filming facilities. Sunderland is also set to become a major hub for the industry through the creation of the Crown Works Gwynn does not see the two sites becoming rivals, but believes they will complement each other."To have one studio base isn't enough to create a cluster and a cluster is the thing that's going to really create a long lasting industry in the region," she said."Hartlepool is going to be based on innovation, pilots, digital, music and mid-range drama. Crown Works Sunderland will be looking at multimillion-pound feature films and big, high-end dramas."She said there would be mid-range productions which would not be able to afford to operate in Sunderland but could work in believes Hartlepool will thrive as a supply chain hub for the industry but said its creation would benefit the whole region."What we'll see over the next couple of years is more and more production-based companies basing themselves not only in Hartlepool but also in Sunderland and then everywhere in between."The opportunity for growth in the sector is a whole North East-wide opportunity. It's absolutely not just Hartlepool or Sunderland." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
