Over a thousand film, television and advanced manufacturing jobs could be created in a £350m investment in North Yorkshire.
Two outline planning permissions have been sought to develop land next to Scotch Corner Designer Village near Richmond.
The first is an advanced manufacturing facility for Rolls Royce, which has shortlisted the area for a £200m, 23,000sq m factory to manufacture parts for its small modular reactor (SMR) programme.
Rolls Royce plans to set up 3 UK factories to increase the availability of low-cost, clean energy.
The second is a 30,650sq m film and television production facility. The company behind the plans, Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, stated it was in “active discussions” with a “major UK film production company.”
“The ongoing success and resilience of the British film industry, plus increased appetite for a broader range of content for Broadcast TV, Streaming, Metaverse and Cinema plus the technical and investment expertise available in the UK, means that new flexible and regional facilities are required to meet current and future market demand,” said Rob Arthur, Director at Entertainment Solution Services.
“A new film studio in North Yorkshire, the location for period dramas such as Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and feature films like Mission Impossible 7, would be an absolute boon for the sector.”
Laurence Beardmore, President of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce added:
“At a time of such uncertainty, it is wonderful to see plans to create such skilled and well-paid jobs in the region,”
“Yorkshire has a strong history of both attracting household names in businesses, as well as film and television to the region so this news is doubly well-received. This development promises to be a game changer for North Yorkshire and as a Chamber it has our full support.”
A decision on the outline planning applications is expected in the first quarter of 2023.
