The UK’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has said he is “determined” that the government will do “everything we can” to see the Crown Works Studios project come to fruition.
Earlier this summer, it was revealed that a private backer of the Sunderland-based facility had pulled out of the project.
Sunderland City Council and the North East Combined Authority are now seeking new investment following Cain International’s decision to withdraw.
Sunderland City Council leader Michael Mordey has previously said he expects to have funding secured by the time land remediation works at the site are completed later this year.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Starmer said: “Let me be really clear on this because I know it really matters – we really want to see this landmark project come to fruition. It is such a good project, good for jobs, good for growth.
“We announced £25 million of funding for the studios in the Autumn Statement to support filmmaking and economic growth, and we are working with the mayor [of the North East, Kim McGuinness] very closely because we need to get private investors to get in behind this.”
Starmer added: “I am determined that we will do everything we can to see this project come to fruition. It is really important locally, it is a huge thing, and we need to give it our full backing.”
Plans for the studios were first announced in February 2023, with FulwellCain–a joint venture between global entertainment company Fulwell 73 and Cain International–listed as the developers.
