Screen Yorkshire has secured the rights to develop a major new studio space, Yorkshire Studios, which it hopes will deliver a significant boost to the region’s burgeoning film and TV infrastructure.

Yorkshire recently housed the production of feature films Shadwell Dogs, Dad’s Army, The Hunter’s Prayer and Miss You Already but, with the new studio, is now able to offer the much-needed space and finance for a far wider range of productions.

Screen Yorkshire is behind the plans to repurpose over 100,000 sq ft of aircraft hangar space, having closed an exclusive deal with property investors Makin Enterprises, owners of the former RAF site in Church Fenton.

With a continued increase in productions flocking to the UK, Screen Yorkshire says it is now “fully equipped for a new wave of film and TV making”.

The complex comprises three aircraft hangars, office space, garages, workshops, extensive parking, roadways and runways.

On top of the improved tax incentives in the UK, the Yorkshire Content Fund – launched in 2012 – is also a force that has driven productions to the region. More than £21m has been injected into the region’s economy, primarily through location-based dramas backed by the fund, including television series Peaky Blinders and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
 

          

Sally Joynson, chief executive at Screen Yorkshire, said it’s especially the long-term productions that the organisation hopes to attract with the studio.

“The opening of Yorkshire Studios is a significant landmark for the UK film and TV industry. The Yorkshire Content Fund has enabled us to secure some incredible projects that have made great use of our existing portfolio of studio space.

“The lack of a larger-scale production facility however, has prevented a number of major long-term film and TV productions from basing themselves here. These productions hold huge potential for sustaining the industry’s infrastructure and workforce, so it became clear that securing such a site should be a priority.”
 

Yorkshire Studios – key facts:

• Available immediately
• Located in a quiet setting between York and Leeds
• Three hangar spaces available: two at 36,000 sq feet x 40 ft height; one at 30,000 sq ft x 40ft height.
• Situated within 440 acres with clear vistas
• Excellent transport links – 10 mins from A1, within 30 mins drive of York and Leeds, less than two hours by train from London
• Additional onsite space includes offices, garages, workshops, parking
• Energy available throughout site
• Roadways and runways in excellent condition
• On the ground support from Screen Yorkshire’s Head of Production Richard Knight
• Closely aligned with the Yorkshire Content Fund which can invest in excess of £1m in feature film or TV projects.