How a film and TV village could reshape Hartlepool

A new film production village will bolster the north-east of England's reputation as a centre for the screen industry, while boosting its economy and regenerating a town, it is hoped.

The village is planned for Hartlepool and aims to provide film makers with everything they need to make a movie or TV show without having to leave the region.

Home to the Northern Studios, Hartlepool already has a foundation to build on and has been used to produce feature film Jackdaw, the BBC comedy Smoggie Queens and ITV dramas.

But North East Screen chief executive Alison Gwynn said expanding the studios and creating the village meant Hartlepool could "attract bigger productions with bigger budgets".

"The production village gives us a real opportunity to be a bit more dynamic and future facing in terms of where the industry's is going," she said.

"One thing to think about is how that links up with digital and podcasts and music and the future development of content - not just linear TV."

A consultation on the development plans for the village is under way and if approved will consist of two main projects.

The first is the extension of the Northern Studios on Lynn Street, which is being funded by £15m from the Tees Valley Investment Zone.

The second is the production of the wider village across the Lynn Street and Whitby Street area, which has received £16.5m from the Levelling Up Fund.

Hartlepool Borough Council leader Brenda Harrison said the campus area would span 300sq m (3,230sq ft) and be located near the Northern School of Art and the local college.

"There are 10 buildings going to be used and these are derelict buildings at the moment. So we're bringing them back to life," she said.

"It's to do with the whole regeneration of that area."

Ms Gwynn said Northern Studios was the only dedicated studio space in the North East but since it was established the industry has changed.

"The growth in the sector in the region has been bigger and quicker than anybody could ever have imagined and actually the studios now need to be bigger," she said.

Currently, they are only able to accommodate one production at a time but the expansion will allow space for a second.

The roof of the studio will also be raised to allow larger productions to use the space.

Ms Gwynn said the changes would ensure Hartlepool was not just a "one trick pony" but could cater to different types of productions, such as pilots and quiz shows with live audiences.

She said the region had previously missed out on some of these productions, including a quiz show being made with County Durham business woman and Dragons' Den star Sara Davies.

"She's currently making an ITV quiz show in Manchester," said Ms Gwynn.

"She would have loved to have made that show in the North East and have a North East audience in it but the studio right now just isn't big enough."

About 130 jobs are expected to be created once the development is completed in 2027.

But council leader Harrison also believes the village's proximity to the town's colleges will have an impact on young people.

"It will be a great benefit to students, both while they're doing their courses and hopefully post-course when the jobs will be there for them," she said.

"By linking with the colleges the production village will benefit from their views and skills and be able to prepare them for the future."

Many productions currently only use Hartlepool for the actual filming of their projects as the facilities for pre and post-production work are not currently available.

The film village aims to bring these facilities, such as costume designers and editing suites, to the area so crews do not need to leave. These will be located in the newly renovated buildings.

Ms Gwynn also believes the village will provide opportunities for businesses which may not have considered themselves able to work with the film industry.

She said having a strong film sector would require a host of professionals such as caterers, accountants, graphic designers, joiners and painters.

"These businesses already exist in the region, they just hadn't thought a screen industry customer was on the radar for them," she said.

Hartlepool is not the only area in the North East attempting to boost its filming facilities. Sunderland is also set to become a major hub for the industry through the creation of the Crown Works development.

Ms Gwynn does not see the two sites becoming rivals, but believes they will complement each other.

"To have one studio base isn't enough to create a cluster and a cluster is the thing that's going to really create a long lasting industry in the region," she said.

"Hartlepool is going to be based on innovation, pilots, digital, music and mid-range drama. Crown Works Sunderland will be looking at multimillion-pound feature films and big, high-end dramas."

She said there would be mid-range productions which would not be able to afford to operate in Sunderland but could work in Hartlepool.

She believes Hartlepool will thrive as a supply chain hub for the industry but said its creation would benefit the whole region.

"What we'll see over the next couple of years is more and more production-based companies basing themselves not only in Hartlepool but also in Sunderland and then everywhere in between.

"The opportunity for growth in the sector is a whole North East-wide opportunity. It's absolutely not just Hartlepool or Sunderland."

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