Prime Minister promises “full backing” for UK’s Crown Works Studios

Starmer’s comments came after Cain International, a key backer for the planned £450m Crown Works Studios, pulled out of the North East England project earlier this summer.

The remaining backer, Fulwell Entertainment, has said it remained committed to working with Sunderland City Council to find "appropriate private funding" to allow the development to continue.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week, Starmer said: "Let me be clear on this because I know it really matters – we want to see this landmark project come to fruition. It is such a good project, good for jobs, good for growth.

"We announced £25m 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.

"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."

The studio was given the go-ahead last year. Its backers say it will create 8,000 jobs and provide 19 sound stages on a 1,600,000ft² site.

Demand for studio space has cooled over the past two years amid a slowdown in major productions shooting in the UK compared to the post-pandemic filming boom.

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy recently announced plans to scrap a review of the BBC's funding model that was set up by the previous government and disband its expert panel. Discover more here.