Executive Summary

GLOBAL MARKETS

The growth rate in global demand for creative moving image content is unprecedented.

The global screen industry have seen powerful disruptions in the form of Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google.

There is also a huge expansion in growth of digital production including Special Effects, virtual & augmented reality, animation and computer gaming.

The scale and speed of growth in content demand has resulted in a global shortage of resources, particularly studio space and skilled labour, to produce feature films and HETV series.

The UK is renowned for its strength in creative services. It is the second most popular location for film and TV production behind the US due to favourable tax incentives, labour skills, flexible employment laws & language.

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

The UK Government aims to see annual Film & TV production increase to £4bn by 2025.

According to research by the international property agents, Lambert Smith Hampton, to meet this target, there is a need for up to 1.9m more square feet of stage space in the UK.

Although there is a preference for filming in the UK, a lack of new capacity will inevitably lead to other overseas locations such as Hungary, Canada or Australia winning business.

FACILITIES PROVISION

The increasing importance of digital content within physical film & TV production offers an opportunity to develop a new approach to the rather outdated concept of studio estates.

By consolidating the considerable number of ancillary support businesses (without compromising on the essential physical and cyber security requirements), a vibrant hub will be created alongside the production studios.

Studios and related supply chain businesses create significant levels of employment. Film & TV productions are labour intensive activities within a single "tent-pole" production creating, directly & indirectly, up to some 600 jobs.

Caledonian Film Studios