Proposals to transform a North East shipyard into film studios with the potential to create more than 1,000 jobs and attract major movie makers have been submitted.
Pallion Engineering has made an application to Sunderland City Council which would pave the way for the regeneration and transformation of its substantial land holdings on the River Wear - the sole remaining shipyard in the city - to create a complex with the potential to create over 1,000 new jobs.
Since the shipbuilding industry’s demise in the 1980,s the Pallion Shipyard building has declined into a “tired state” with only a third of its area used for office, workshop, industrial and storage. But with movie making space much in demand, the site could become one of just a handful of global water studios in the world.
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Aided by DPP Planning’s Newcastle office and FaulknerBrowns architects in Killingworth, the proposal plans for the development of Shipyard Studios would see more than 500,000 sq ft of creative space, retaining the existing mega-structures, and including the largest covered ‘water studio’ in the world. At the moment there are just two UK production houses with water studios in the UK, in Berkshire and at Pinewood Studios.
Plans for Pallion Shipyard Studios are being led by Metalwork Pictures USA, Broadwick Live, Pallion Engineering and Kajima Corporation of Japan. Those behind the scheme say the studio could be in great demand, with an estimated need for 2m sq ft more than currently available and rising, thanks to increasing demand from streaming services such as Prime and Amazon constantly needing to keep refreshing their content.
Andrew Levitas of Metalwork Pictures, said: “With rapidly growing demand for world class production space, huge local investment, and historically unique infrastructure, Pallion Film Shipyard Studios is singularly positioned to deliver as the premiere production destination globally. This visionary facility for creators and producers alike will offer an overwhelmingly positive impact on the Sunderland community and surrounding areas.
“An area of particular focus is the creation of a deeply rooted education and mentorship program which both benefits from as well as serves the content creating community. This is hugely exciting”.
Simeon Aldred, group head of strategy, Broadwick Live, said: “Broadwick Live are pleased to be working with the team on Pallion Shipyard Studios. Broadwick Live are specialists in repurposing venues of scale, railway stations, a Victorian pumping station and the largest print works in Europe. Broadwick have created more than 20 iconic venues and film studios across the UK. We are excited to see the future of this amazing shipyard studio take place.”
Kate Pix, regeneration director of Kajima Partnerships, said: “Kajima Partnerships are delighted to be a part of this exciting project in the city of Sunderland. We believe it will bring real regeneration and opportunity to this area.”
The project would see the integration of Pallion Shipyard Studios at the heart of the existing Riverside regeneration scheme, to create a new creative quarter. It also supports the creative ambitions being actioned by Sunderland City Council, the University of Sunderland and North East Screen, to position the city and North East region to capitalise on the growing opportunities presented by film and media.
The plans are being shared with the Government, and have the potential to create new long-term, sustainable employment, tapping into Sunderland’s historic trade skills as well as those in the creative field.
Back in 2017 the BFI’s £19m skills investment plan was launched to address the need for 10,000 new entrants to keep the UK in the pole position of global film production over the next five years, and over the following two years employment rose 20% to 219,000 workers in the UK industry. As well as creating roles such production co-ordinators and assistants, crew, designers, decorators and set builders, camera operators, actors and extras at Pallion, the studios would also create a ripple effect of positivity for other workers, encompassing everything from catering, hotels and taxis, to carpentry, dive masters and electricians.
The global pandemic enforced a shutdown in 2020 - but has since accelerated over the past 12 months, creating an even higher demand for skilled workers.
Sunderland City Council leader Graeme Miller said: “We welcome the owners’ ambition for retaining and reusing this significant building and are supportive of this emerging sector within the city - which represents a significant opportunity for the North East.”
Lee McLaughlin of Faulknerbrowns Architects said: “The regeneration of Pallion into a creative district for arts, media and new forms of linked industrialism not only ensures a long second-life for this iconic site, but it extends and continues the riverside regeneration which is already under way at Riverside Sunderland.”
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