Spanner in Crown Works
Plans for the £450m film and TV studio in Sunderland have hit a rough patch, as investor Cain International withdraws from the project.
The 1.7m sq ft scheme received full planning permission in March last year, with the 82-acre plot to be transformed into one of Europe’s largest film studios.
Plans for 19 sound stages and offices for production processes such as visual effects were greenlit by Sunderland Council, which is a strategic partner in the project alongside Fulwell Cain Studios.
Fulwell Cain Studios is a joint venture between Cain International and entertainment firm Fulwell, which is now seeking another investment partner with support from the council.
Around the same time last year, the North East Combined Authority announced it would invest up to £120m towards the project.
Designed by 4D Studio Architects, the wider project team includes Lichfields, landscape architect Southern Green, structural engineer Hydrick, M&E consultant Desco, and quantity surveyor Towner & Townsend.
Completion on the project was marked for 2027, although this is now up in the air.
Sunderland City Council leader Michael Mordey said: ‘There’s an absolute commitment to secure the best possible delivery partner to move this forward, and we expect that we will have funding confirmed and be ready to progress the first phase of the studios by the time remediation works complete later this year.”
A spokesperson for Fulwell said: ‘Fulwell Entertainment remains committed to working with the council to find appropriate private funding, complementing the combined North East authority and wider government funding needed to make these world-class production studios a reality.”
