Barking & Dagenham Council has partnered with global media real estate company Hackman Capital Partners for the construction of London’s largest film and television production studio.
The studio’s construction is expected to begin in 2021, with expectations that it will be fully operational by 2023, although filming could start from mid-2022.
Gowling WLG acted as legal counsel to the Borough of Barking & Dagenham and its regeneration and development arm, Be First, on the agreement with Hackman Capital for the development of Eastbrook Studios London, which will be located in Dagenham.
Eastbrook Studios, which will be the largest television and film centre in London, has already gained planning permission and will include 12 sound stages, as well as three acres of backlot, and office space, all with a total area of 0.5 million square feet.
“Dagenham used to be famous for factories and Fords but in the future, we will be equally famous for making films. It’s not for the glamour or glory. It’s about bringing in thousands of jobs, providing education and training opportunities for local young people, and giving people hope in these gloomy Covid times,” said leader of Barking & Dagenham Council, Darren Rodwell, in a statement.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also commented: “We are already seeing that the success of this industry will help our economy to recover from the impact of the pandemic, and these studios will play a key role in our city’s future.”
Hackman Capital will be providing hundreds of millions of pounds in direct investment which will include an endowment to help maximise local jobs, placements and apprenticeships. The site will be leased to Hackman Capital under a 250-year agreement.
The studio’s construction will boost the Borough of Barking & Dagenham’s entertainment industry and create approximately 1,200 jobs as well as apprenticeships, community and supply chain opportunities.
In addition, Eastbrook Studios, which is essential for the United Kingdom, as one of the most sought after locations for high-end television production and feature filming, will contribute GBP 35 million per annum to the local economy. This is hoped to set the ball rolling for further regeneration projects in East London.
In the last year, over GBP 3.6 billion has been spent in London on film and high-end television production, so this centre will do a lot to aid London’s economic recovery.
“Not only is [this] a success story for Dagenham, but it comes at a time when our cultural sectors are in need of support and investment,” said partner and head of regeneration at Gowling, Richard Beckingsale, in a statement.
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