Sunderland will become home to one of the biggest film studios in the North East of England, as Mayor Kim McGuinness is set to commit more than £38m to supercharge Crown Works Studios delivery.
The much-anticipated blockbuster development could begin construction in July, with completion by the end of next year.
Crown Works Growth Zone – an area of land in Pallion, Sunderland, designated as an area where new jobs will be created – is set to receive the backing of the North East Combined Authority’s cabinet on March 17, paving the way for the development of Phase 1 of the Crown Works Studio complex.
At 125,000 sq ft, across a super-sized new build and refurbishment of the Doxford Printworks building, Crown Works be one of the largest a studio complex in the North of England, capable of hosting live events and gameshows, as well as blockbuster films and TV projects.
Production in the North East is already thriving, up more than 130% in the last three years, with this investment marked to sustain that growth, and make the North East a powerhouse in British screen production.
Sunderland City Council leader, Councillor Michael Mordey, said the funding proposals, that will allow the council to build phase one of Crown Works Growth Zone, represented a momentous step forward for the city and for creative industries across the North East, while also creating jobs and opportunities for a wider range of people and businesses.
He said: “We’re getting this done – for the people of Sunderland and the North East. This is a huge moment, as we turn a transformational vision into reality.
“I am thrilled that the North East Mayor is backing us in our bid to unlock the potential of Crown Works Growth Zone and establish Sunderland as a TV and film production hub, an opportunity that will unlock significant benefits for the region’s people and businesses. Sunderland has led from the front and made the case strongly for support to realise our vision. This backing is the product of strong and positive partnership-working between local, regional and national government, with all of us working in lockstep to deliver a game-changing development for Sunderland, the North East, and for UK Plc.
“From joiners, electricians and painter and decorators, who will create sets for TV and film, to data wranglers and digital creators, and forklift drivers to sound and lighting engineers, this studio development will bring with it opportunities for all kinds of people and professions. This is about unleashing the immense potential of our region.”
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness said: “I promised to back Crown Works Studios in Sunderland, and we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting it done – sending a strong message of the scale and opportunity for more investment in our creative industries.
“With this investment, we will bring blockbuster projects to the banks of the Wear, telling stories from our region and beyond, and showing local people that if you have a creative dream, you don’t have to move to London. The industry and the opportunities are here.
“I’m putting culture and creativity at the centre of the region’s plans for jobs, creating opportunities for working class creatives, like local filmmakers, actors and all of the careers behind the scenes, like electricians, set designers and make-up artists.”
Papers shared with the North East Mayor’s Cabinet ahead of its meeting next week reconfirm a £25m commitment from the Government’s Trailblazer Devolution Deal, along with an additional £11m of repayable funding channelled to Sunderland City Council to enable delivery of the first phase of the Crown Works Growth Zone. £500,000 of operational revenue support has been allocated for each of the first five years of operation, to help secure a private sector partner to run the studios and to advance the development of the eco-system needed to unlock what TV and film industry leaders describe as ‘a massive opportunity for the North East’.
The studio plans support the North East Combined Authority’s Culture, Creative Industries and Sport Strategy, which focuses on Music, Film and Screen, and Writing and Publishing as priority subsectors within the Creative Industries, primed for growth over the next ten years.
Phase one of the Crown Works development aims to build out the site incrementally, with the initial investment expected to act as a catalyst to fuel public and private sector backing to expand the complex.
The approach is backed by Alison Gwynn, chief executive of North East Screen, the screen development agency for the North East, which has helped drive the growth of the sector in recent years.
Alison said: “The evidence is clear: the North East has undergone a remarkable shift in TV and film production, and we’re now firmly on the map as a serious, competitive alternative to established hubs elsewhere in the UK.
“What sets our region apart is what we have to offer: stunning coastlines, dramatic countryside, vibrant cities, characterful rural communities, and talented crew. It’s all here, and productions know it. We’re also seeing more and more skilled people choosing to build their careers here, which is exactly what the industry needs to thrive.
“Crown Works is a game-changing opportunity for our region, and I’m absolutely delighted to see this level of backing behind it. We’re already talking to streamers and major producers who are excited about the potential of this space when it opens, and this investment sends a powerful signal that the North East is ready to deliver.”
David Parfitt, chair of North East Screen and a titan of industry who produced global blockbuster Shakespeare in Love, said: “This is a huge moment for Sunderland, and I am delighted to see the Combined Authority throw its weight behind studios that will put some firepower behind creative industries in the North East.
“Supported by North East Screen, there has been a real step change in production in the North East over the last four years, and we know there is demand for screen facilities here that Crown Works will address.”
The refurbished Doxford Printworks and new-build propriety should be open and ready for use by the end of 2027, with construction already in pre-contract negotiations with Sunderland City Council to quickly move into delivery mode. The large new-build will provide a flexible entertainment space that could host shows with a live studio audience.
