The final details for construction of a major TV and film studio in Sunderland have been set out in a revised application submitted to the city's planning authority.
Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to begin in autumn 2026.
The first phase of Crown Works, Studio One, will provide three sound stages, production accommodation, backlot space, and a car park, alongside the refurbishment of the historic WH Foster Printworks building.
The studios will be built on a brownfield site on the southern banks of the River Wear. Overall, 178,000ft2 of TV and film production space will be created in the first phase of Crown Works.
International architecture practice FaulknerBrowns designed the new buildings.
The development is backed by Mayor Kim McGuinness with more than £38m of public money from the Northeast Mayoral Strategic Authority.
The studios’ original privately funded plans had included 19 studios but were later scaled down after two major investors pulled out.
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.”
McGuinness said: "Our £38m investment is all about making sure there are jobs for local people on their doorstep, without having to move hundreds of miles away to London. This planning permission is the last hurdle to bringing world-class film and TV shows to the Northeast, and I'm excited to see construction start."
A key backer for the planned £450m Crown Works Studios in Sunderland recently withdrew from the project, according to a BBC News report. Discover more here.
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