New U.K. TV & Film Studio Gets Greenlight

Planning is underway for a new £250 million ($310 million) television and film production facility to be built on the site of the derelict Newtown Railway Works in Kent.

Ashford International Studios, backed by The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI) and Quinn Estates, was given the greenlight at the first-ever virtual meeting of the Ashford Borough Council. The backers of the facility say it is the biggest single investment in U.K. film and TV studios and will serve as a “huge production base bridging Europe and London.” It is set to open in early 2022, covering 240,000 square feet of dedicated TV and film production space, with a media village, educational center, hotel and more. TCDI’s sister company Time + Space Studios will be operating the studios. Amazon and Netflix are said to have indicated an interest in using the new facility.

Piers Read and Jeremy Rainbird, founders of TCDI, said, “Amidst this current global pandemic, it is extremely exciting to be given the go-ahead by the council to start work on what will become one of the U.K.’s biggest creative hubs. Global streaming giants have already expressed interest in the scheme as demand for their services booms and before there is a huge backlog in production, as people stay at home and burn through original content at record levels. We have the ability to create thousands of jobs for people which is crucial at this time and we will also be able to ensure creative talent and skills are harnessed and nurtured through our planned education center. We are thrilled that the council recognizes the importance of Ashford International Studios and has given consent to this development which will deliver huge opportunities through its massive expansion of the industry in the U.K.”

The project, which aims to create over 2,000 jobs, is part of TCDI’s £500 million plan to bolster the U.K.’s TV and film production sectors.

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission and Film London, commented, “The U.K. screen industries have been experiencing an exceptional boom time and we look forward to building on this by continuing as an industry to invest in skills and develop our world-class infrastructure. We are of course operating in unprecedented times and the impact of COVID-19 will undoubtedly be felt deeply by screen industries as we work through this ever-evolving situation. Today’s announcement highlights the industry’s commitment to an ongoing strategy to ensure its sustainability, building on the U.K.’s rich history of attracting filmmakers, nurturing talent and creating world-class content.”