The developers behind the long‑running Crown Works proposal have lodged revised plans with Sunderland City Council for the scheme's opening phase, bringing the prospect of work starting on the filmmaking hub as early as this autumn.
What the first phase includes
The submission relates to Studio One, a scaled‑down initial element of the wider Crown Works vision. Designed by FaulknerBrowns architects, the first phase would occupy the eastern end of the remediated brownfield site and comprises a mix of new build and refurbishment.
- Three sound stages and associated production support facilities;
- Backlot space and a surface car park;
- Refurbishment of the historic WH Foster Printworks building.
Developers say the phase will provide around 178,000 sq ft of TV and film production accommodation capable of hosting a range of projects, from studio dramas to live events.
Scaled ambition but local opportunity
The Crown Works concept has been reduced from an earlier plan for 19 sound stages after major finance was withdrawn. Nevertheless, regional leaders argue that the revised scheme can still deliver notable benefits to Sunderland and the wider north‑east creative economy.
“We’re on the verge of blockbuster films and smash hit TV being filmed here on the banks of the River Wear,” North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said, adding that the £38m regional investment aims to create jobs for local people close to home.
The submission is presented as the catalyst to unlock further incremental building on the site, with the intention that approval and delivery of Studio One will encourage both public and private backers to support later phases.
Local impacts and next steps
For Sunderland residents the immediate implications are practical: consultation and planning decisions by the council; potential construction activity on a previously remediated brownfield site; and prospects for job creation within film, television and ancillary services.
| Element | Included in Phase One |
|---|---|
| Sound stages | Three |
| Production space | 178,000 sq ft |
| Historic building | WH Foster Printworks (refurbishment) |
Pending planning approval, developers hope to begin work on Studio One this autumn. The project remains dependent on securing the next rounds of funding and commercial interest that would allow the site to expand beyond this first phase.
As proposals move through the council’s planning process, the submission will be a focal point for local stakeholders weighing the economic promise of a growing regional creative sector against the realities of construction, traffic and long‑term delivery of the wider Crown Works ambition.
