Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is planning a 40-acre film and TV studio in the West Midlands, according to The Observer.
Backed by the local council, investors and leading production companies, the £100m state-of-the-art ‘Mercian’ studio would reportedly host productions ranging from blockbusters to small-scale projects.
Knight said he wants the studio to be the “greenest on Earth … I want to grass the roofs so they’re bird sanctuaries. All sets that are dismantled will be burned for energy. All vehicles will be electric.” He added that the BBC is “very keen” to be based there.
“So many American and international producers want to shoot in the UK because of our crew base and tax incentives,” he continued. “Many high-profile production companies are begging for [studio] space. I’m from Birmingham. I felt it was a shame that there was no production going on in the centre of the country.”
Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission and Film London, added: “The UK needs more studio space. Tax credits, our fantastic infrastructure, our talent base, our crew base … all combine to create an irresistible package. We’re one of the most popular destinations for film and high-end television. The demand for studio space is growing.”
An official announcement is due later this year. The studio is expected to open within two and a half years.
