Expansion Of Elstree Studios Underway

A £15.6 million project to expand Elstree Studios has officially got underway.

Contractors R. G. Carter Construction are delivering the main contract, which will see the site of the former Big Brother house become home to two new soundstages and ancillary workshops. Once operational, the soundstages will create at least 800 new jobs, plus apprenticeships and other learning opportunities for local school leavers and the unemployed. As part of the deal, £100,000 per year from the rental income received by Hertsmere Borough Council will be invested locally into creative industries, including local media and creative enterprise and initiatives.

Oliver Dowden CBE, MP for Hertsmere and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, council Leader Cllr Morris Bright MBE and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board member David Conway joined Roger Morris, Managing Director of Elstree Studios to mark the occasion of the main construction work beginning. Enabling works have been underway at the site since earlier this year.

Elstree Studios' Managing Director, Roger Morris, said: "This is the first new stage build on the Elstree Studios site in over 20 years. It will be there to satisfy client demand for stage space. The new stages will be built to a very high specification, similar to our successful George Lucas stages, and will benefit from the appropriate infrastructure already in place for the Film and TV industry at Elstree Studios. Once built, there will be 9 stages available for clients on site. The new stages are next door to the Elstree Studios backlot currently used by Netflix and Sony Left Bank Pictures' 'The Crown', which is just about to begin filming series 5."

Councillor Morris Bright MBE, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, commented: "This is a thrilling moment for Elstree Studios, its owners, Hertsmere Borough Council and all the partners involved in this project.

"The creation of these two new soundstages and ancillary workshops will result in at least 800 new jobs, plus 120 new learner and apprenticeship opportunities. It represents a huge boost for our local economy and ensures new and exciting opportunities ahead for our residents and businesses. Coupled with the creation of the multi-million pound Sky Studios Elstree down the road, this project reinforces Hertsmere's status as the number-one home for film and TV production. It means that Hertsmere well and truly deserves to be known as 'British Hollywood', something we should all feel proud about."

Paul Hutchinson, Director at R G Carter added: "We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver this exciting specialist facility that will not only benefit the growing creative sector, but also provide the local community with fantastic opportunities. We are looking forward to working in partnership with Hertsmere Borough Council and Elstree Studios and supporting their ambitious plans within the British film and TV industry."

The project has been part-funded by a £6 million Getting Building Fund investment from the government and Hertfordshire LEP.

The £900m Getting Building Fund was announced in August 2020 to deliver jobs, skills and infrastructure across the country. It supports the delivery of shovel-ready infrastructure projects, selected by Local Enterprise Partnerships and Mayoral Combined Authorities and endorsed by the Housing Secretary, to fuel local recovery and kickstart economic growth amidst the pandemic.

www.elstreestudios.co.uk