What has a better ring to it, Hollywood, or Hartlepool? Soon the seaside town in the northeast of England could become a hotspot for the film industry, as plans have been revealed to build an entire village dedicated to movie production in the area.
Hartlepool’s film and TV production village could become a ‘hotbed for world-class’ productions, and establish a ‘significant creative centre’ in that part of the country, developers hope. It would bring the film industry to a region where locals have historically ‘had to leave’ if they wanted to work in the business, the chief executive of North East Screen Alison Gwynne said.
The northeast’s answer to Tinsel Town would see the Northern Studios complex, which is already there, expanded, as well as the creation of a new production village in the Lynn Street and Whitby Street area. At the moment Northern Studios is the only large-scale film and TV studio in that part of England. It helped produce the 2023 feature film Jackdaw and BBC comedy Smoggie Queens.
Hartlepool Borough Council has already received £16.5 million from the Levelling Up Fund to support the development, which will bring a number of new jobs to the area.
Council leader Brenda Harrison said: ‘Creating jobs, driving investment in Hartlepool and delivering regeneration are all key aims of our council and this project delivers all three in an abundance.’
A public consultation on the project has been taking place in Hartlepool this week.
In other film news, Camden is set to get a new £1 billion development dedicated to movie making, called the Camden Film Quarter.
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