London exploring plans for city s largest film studios

Sadiq Khan has backed plans to build what could be the largest film studios in London.

Plans for the new studios, which would be situated in Dagenham, were announced following Khan's visit to the borough yesterday.

The mayor has teamed up with Film London, the London Local Enterprise Panel and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to commission a feasibility study into constructing the prospective studios.

The process will be led by Film London in close consultation with the film and television industries.

Khan said, From James Bond and Star Wars to Harry Potter and Bridget Jones's Baby, London has a vibrant production history and some of the best studios in the world. To sustain and grow this success story, it is critical that the capital gets significantly more studio and production capacity to maximise the opportunities for filmmaking.

London is open to the best creative and cultural minds and I am looking forward to exploring whether a new film studio in Dagenham could help the capital's film industry thrive for years to come.

Approximately three-quarters of the UK's film industry is based in and around London, and attracted £1 billion in inward investment from international film production throughout 2015.

New studio space will, according to Khan, help meet increasing demand and ensure many more multi-million-pound productions come to London.

The London Local Enterprise Partnership and Barking and Dagenham Council will invest up to £80,000 to develop a business case for the proposed new studios. This will look in close detail at the demand for such a facility and the economic benefit that it could bring to East London and the city as a whole.

The creative industries account for one in six jobs in the capital and are a major area for economic growth. This sector already provides 800,000 jobs in London and generate £35 billion for the economy.

Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said, We are working together to create a blockbuster deal to generate hundreds of exciting opportunities for local young people and bolster Barking and Dagenham's reputation as London's latest creative hotspot.

Our ambition is that in future, Dagenham will become world famous for films rather than Fords.

LINK:	http://www.tvbeurope.com/london-exploring-plans-citys-largest-film-stu...
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