Work on the delayed Crown Works Studios in Sunderland looks set to finally begin this autumn following the submission of revised planning permission.
Studio One at Crown Works is the first phase in the transformation of this 31-hectare site, which is aiming to bring major TV and film production to the North East.
The first phase, Studio One, will provide three sound stages, ancillary production accommodation, backlot space as well as the refurbishment of the historic WH Foster Printworks building. Computer-generated images submitted as part of the planning application illustrate the first new buildings, which will be located on the eastern part of the site.
In all, 178,000 sq ft of TV and film production space will be created in the first phase of Crown Works, with the facility eventually set to become one of the largest studio complexes in the North of England.
Councillor Chris Eynon, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “I want to see plans for Crown Works move ahead at pace, so this is an exciting step forward that will take this from vision to reality.
“Sunderland has a long and proud history as a city of makers. People here are not only creative, they’re also industrious and that combination means that there could be no better place to accelerate the region’s ambitions when it comes to unlocking the potential of our creative industries.”
