Hammerlake Studios

Source: Hammerlake Studios

Hammerlake Studios is set to build Ireland’s largest film and television studio, situated less than an hour from Dublin.

Following the company’s application in May this year, the Westmeath County Council approved predominant plans to develop a film, TV and content production campus to attract major Hollywood and other global projects to the country.

Full completion will take place over two phases: Phase one, totalling 236,000ft, will comprise four studios or sound stages for large-scale film and TV production, an administrative building, workshops, data technology centres, editing rooms, food, fitness and other amenities. 

Construction of phase one will be developed over 12 months — with film production set to start from the first quarter of 2024. 350 production jobs and 300 construction jobs will be created in phase one.

Phase two, which will be submitted for planning approval in summer 2023, will see an additional seven studios added to the campus, totalling 460,000ft2. The company estimates a minimum of 1,000 production jobs will be created after the completion of phase two in 2025.  

The final part of the planning application is subject to material contravention of the County Development Plan, which will see final approval in September, 2022.

The design of the new studio will welcome creative technologies - including virtual capabilities - to facilitate large-scale and high-end digital productions. It will be developed on a 25-acre site at Lough Sheever Corporate Park, Mullingar, Co Westmeath — under an hour from Dublin Airport and adjacent to the M4 motorway.

This story first appeared on Screen’s sister site KFTV.