Yorkshire to become major TV & film location with new movie studio

Could Yorkshire become the new movie capital of the country?

The region’s TV and film sector has just received a major boost as Screen Yorkshire has secured the rights to 100,000sq ft aircraft hangar which will be used as new studio space.

The new deal completed with property investors Makin Enterprises, owners of the former RAF site in Church Fenton, will see the RAF base become The Yorkshire Studios, Screen Yorkshire announced.

This significant move is part of a wider plan to help put the region on an “equal footing” with other key UK production centres.

Located near Leeds and York, the aircraft hanger comprises of 3 aircraft hangars, office space, garages, workshops, parking, roadways and runways.

Yorkshire’s presence in TV and film has substantially improved since the launch of the Yorkshire Content Fund in 2012, which has injected £21m region’s economy through location-based dramas including Peaky Blinders, Dad’s Army and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

Sally Joynson, Chief Executive at Screen Yorkshire commented: “The opening of ‘The Yorkshire Studios’ is a significant landmark for the UK film & TV industry. The Yorkshire Content Fund has enabled us to secure some incredible projects that have made great use of our existing portfolio of studio space.

“The lack of a larger-scale production facility however, has prevented a number of major long-term film and TV productions from basing themselves here. These productions hold huge potential for sustaining the industry’s infrastructure and workforce, so it became clear that securing such a site should be a priority.’’

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission and Film London, added: “The UK represents a tremendous draw for overseas productions thanks to its generous Creative Sector Tax Reliefs, and our world-class crews, locations, talent and facilities. Success of course means increased demand, so the significant new studio space at Church Fenton is incredibly welcome news, and I congratulate Screen Yorkshire in their work in helping make it happen. It represents a real boost the UK’s existing production infrastructure and will also be an added incentive for domestic and international productions to shoot in the area, and enable them to access the Yorkshire Content Fund.”

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