A revised plan for the UK’s Crown Works Studios has been granted planning permission by Sunderland City Council for the first stage of its development.
It is being backed by more than £38m of public money from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and is a scaled-back version of initial plans that included 19 studios across 1.5 million sq ft with £450m in private funding from Cain International and Fulwell Entertainment, as first announced in 2024.
Cain International pulled out last year, while Fulwell Entertainment pulled out earlier this year.
The revised plan for the Studio One at Crown Works in Sunderland will have three sound stages, production accommodation, backlot space and a car park, with work set to begin next month, to be delivered in two years. The WH Foster Printworks building will also be refurbished as part of the plans.
As demand grows, it is understood a second phase of further construction could follow.
In addition to being open for film and TV productions, the mixed ecosystem facility will house live audience broadcasts, music and sporting events, with opportunities for content creators.
Council leader Chris Eynon of the Reform party described it as a “significant step forward for Crown Works and paves the way for construction of a development that will establish Sunderland and the North East as a major destination for film and high-end TV production”.
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