Crown Works Studios: Proposals for a new North East film industry hub in Sunderland

Lichfields is excited to be working with FulwellCain Studios Limited and Sunderland City Council to bring forward their ambitious proposals to develop a world-class film and high-end TV production facility on a prominent brownfield site on the south bank of the River Wear. Crown Works Studios, would spear head a new state-of-the-art film industry hub in the North East and would be one of Europe's largest studio complexes with a 154,215 sqm (1.66 million sqft) site, including sound stages for filming, offices for post-production processes (e.g. visual special effects writing) and workshops for creating and maintaining the film studios, props, sets and equipment.

The proposals will make a huge contribution to ‘levelling up’ by establishing the largest studio complex outside of London and the south-east. Importantly, the proposals will deliver significant employment opportunities and will help to drive economic growth in Sunderland and the wider region.

Exciting and vibrant regeneration schemes are currently being delivered in the wider area, including Riverside Sunderland. The redevelopment of this 33 ha site will revitalise this riverside area of Sunderland and will help act as a catalyst for further regeneration.

The proposed development will have huge economic benefits including:

Leo Pearlman partner of Fulwell 73 said: “Fulwell is a company built on family and the North East is embedded in our DNA.  For over 100 years my family had a business here in Sunderland and called this great City home and I really believe in the opportunities for the screen industry to invest in our beloved North East region.  Through delivering the studios, we will create a long-term production industry infrastructure, contributing to the local economy in the North East, attract even more significant high-end production to the UK and ensuring that future generations of North Eastern talent with all skill sets can develop and prosper at home within the region.”

Lynda Newsome, Associate Director at Lichfields said: “We are delighted to provide the planning services for this prestigious development which will continue the dramatic transformation of Sunderland’s Riverside and will help create an internationally significant screen industries production hub in North East England.”

FulwellCain Studios and their team comprising 4D Studio (Architects), Lichfields UK (Planning Consultants), Turner and Townsend (Project Managers), have been working closely with Sunderland City Council and the wider consultant team over the past few months to develop the proposals.

We are now proceeding with consultation and engagement with key stakeholders and the public, including the launch of our project website. All are welcome to attend the public exhibition, which is being held at City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland between 14th to 23rd June 2023, members of the project team will be present to answer queries on Monday 19^th June between 10am and 3pm. Alternatively, please visit the project website crownworks.co.uk to view the proposals and submit your feedback, or contact the team via e-mail for further details crownworks@lichfields.uk.

After all feedback is received following 30th June 2023, we will consider all comments provided to us prior to finalising and submitting a full planning application to Sunderland City Council in late summer 2023 with onsite construction expected to start as early as 2024.