Sunderland City Council has approved Studio One, the first phase of a film and high-end TV production hub at Crown Works on the south bank of the River Wear.

It will include three sound stages, production accommodation, a backlot and parking, alongside the refurbishment of the WH Foster Printworks building.

The project has moved on from the original £450m proposal by FulwellCain, a joint venture between Cain International and Fulwell Entertainment, which included 19 studios.

Cain International withdrew in 2025 and Fulwell Entertainment in March 2026.

The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority’s March report said “global macro-economic factors and national economic conditions” had created headwinds for the film and TV industry, making the original private-investment model “no longer considered viable”.

It set out a publicly built first phase, with private co-investment for further development to be sought once the first phase is operating successfully.

The authority's support package totals £38.5m: £25m in capital funding, £11m of repayable funding and up to £500,000 a year in operating support for five years.

The authority approved the £11m and operating support provisionally, subject to a full business case.

The £25m and £11m together cover the first phase's estimated capital cost of about £36m. Sunderland City Council says public-sector investment in land assembly, remediation and Studio One will total just over £60m.

The authority's report forecasts up to 380 direct, indirect and induced jobs across the North East from 2028, including construction.

Construction is expected to begin this autumn, with enabling work under way. The March report had expected the studios to be finished by the end of 2027.

The next delivery step is appointing an operator or managing agent. The March report said the appointment would be made before the studios are finished.