Sunderland’s screen industry gets £25m public sector backing

Work on Sunderland Riverside, which will be home to Crown Works Studios, will kick off shortly after public sector funding was secured for a £450m film and TV production hub. North East mayor Kim McGuinness and members of the North East Combined Authority have given the green light to a £25m investment in the region’s screen industry.  The decision was made at the cabinet’s meeting on 30 July. Crown Works Studios features 1.66m sq ft of filmmaking space to be delivered FulwellCain, a joint venture between Cain International and Fulwell 73. Plans were approved earlier this year with works set to begin later this summer. Completion is scheduled for 2027. The completed development is expected to create up to 8,450 jobs across the North East by 2033. It is forecast that as the studio development and its supply chain grows over the next 10 years, it will add £2bn to the region’s economy. McGuinness said: “We will build a creative economy from the banks of the River Wear and beyond, creating thousands of jobs for local people. Doing so will make our area the home of real opportunity, ending the days when people have to leave the North East to pursue a career in creative industries.” Michael Mordey, cabinet member for finance and investment and leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Proposals for studios in Sunderland have captured the imagination of many people across the North East, and the city will become home to yet another powerhouse that will deliver advantages for the city, region and UK plc. We look forward to working closely with the sector and investors on this opportunity.” Alison Gwynn, chief executive at North East Screen, added: “The North East is the fastest growing region in the UK for film and TV production and has seen an 86% increase over the past two years with 2024 already set to create even more jobs for local people.” Image © 4D Studio Architects