UK-based Skanhaus Group is planning to invest $24m (Euros 18m) in the construction of a new film production complex north-east of Berlin which is being billed as the world’s “first eco-friendly film studio.”

Planning permission has been granted by the town council of Angermünde of the Film Park Stolpe on a 20,000-square metre site to include four sound stages and a 10-acre backlot as well as production office, postproduction facilities, a cinemas, administration offices, craft shops and living accommodation including 24 luxury appartments complete with a gym, swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Speaking to ScreenDaily, Skanhaus Group’s Sales Director Hans Holgerson said that the planned level of investment for the Film Park amounts to Euros 18m “excluding the movie equipment”. He acknowledged that the company would be intending to access funding from the European Regional Investment Fund for the project. “This has been discussed and action will be taken when appropriate,” Holgerson said.

Building work is set to commence on the production complex in summer 2011 for the studio to be “fully operational by summer 2012,” he revealed. In addition, it is expected that the Film Park will create up to 100 new jobs in the Angermünde region north-East of Berlin.

Asked whether the regional authorities such as the State of Brandenburg or the regional film fund Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg were aware of the Film Park project, Holgerson replied in the affirmative: “however, no response yet from Medienboard; all other local and regional authorities are informed and have approved our project.”

The Film Park Stolpe is being managed by CEO Joubert Grant, one of directors of the Skanhaus Group. Since April 2010, Grant has also been a director of the film and television animation company Animation Kreation which has been developing the children’s animation series concept Hairdo Hamsters.

According to the local  newspaper Märkische Oderzeitung, Holgerson and Patrick Grant of the globally active Hathaway Group had visited Angermünde in January 2008 to discuss plans for a film studio on the outskirts of the town with architect and project manager Martin Krassuski.

At the time, the newspaper reported that the real state developer Hathaway Group had purchased land from the Treuhand privatization agency to build the studio with plans to invest “around  Euros 12m”.

Skanhaus Group is involved in the production of prefabricated sustainable housing using pinewood sourced from Scandinavian forests.

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