Hooray for Hollywood in the UK
In 2021 the UK film industry had a record breaking “level of film and TV production”. In part this was due to the demand for updated content to be produced on major streaming platforms after the shut down during the pandemic.
This increase in production continues and has led to more demand for studio space. A Lambert Smith Hampton report estimates that 2.3 million sq ft of new sound stage space will be required by 2033. And JLL states that this demand for space is “spilling over into vacant industrial and retail boxes.”
Here’s just some of the current film industry projects occurring throughout the UK:
Elstree Studios, based in Borehamwood, Herts has a long history of being the home to many groundbreaking films. Alfred Hitchcock made Blackmail the first British talking film here in 1929. Star Wars was made at the studios in 1976 and in 2018 Elstree became home to many of the top UK tv shows including The Voice and The Chase.
Now the studio has reached another milestone in its latest expansion project as the outer structures of two new soundstages reach completion. It is expected that these new stages will provide hundreds of new jobs and apprenticeships.
In Wales, the 4 Wood TV & Film company has tripled its space at the Trident Trade Park in Cardiff. Established in 2005 the company are construction and scenery specialists whose projects have included Doctor Who and His Dark Materials.
Travelling on to West Lothian, a £2 million film studio is set to be developed at Pyramids Business Park which has in the past seen the likes of Danny Boyle filming the Trainspotting sequel at the site.
Shepperton studios in Surrey, where such classics as the Third Man (1949) and blockbuster Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) were made has recently made a deal leasing long term space to Amazon Prime, who also have a deal with Netflix.
It appears it’s going to be lights, camera and action for the foreseeable future.
