Mayor urges Chancellor to back film studio plan

THE North East mayor has called for more public funding to help get a landmark film studio development in Sunderland off the ground.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

Kim McGuinness says she has asked Chancellor Rachel Reeves to deliver more funding for the proposed Crown Works Studios project in next week's Budget.

The flagship riverside development was thrown into uncertainty when its main private investor pulled out earlier this year and Sunderland City Council has recently hired real estate firm CBRE to find new partners for the £450m project.

The UK government has already committed £25m to the scheme, which was confirmed by Ms Reeves in her 2024 autumn statement following a previous agreement as part of the devolution deal which established the regional mayor.

But Ms McGuinness is now calling for further backing when the Chancellor presents her Budget on November 26.

The mayor's office named funding for the Crown Works among a list of priority measures that she had raised with Government officials in pre-Budget meetings in London last week, describing it as a “major opportunity to grow the region's thriving creative sector”.

Ms McGuinness said: “I will always champion the North East. That's why I'm continuing to push directly with the Treasury for further investment, so we can get spades in the ground at Crown Works as soon as possible.

“This project is a regional priority and we are working hard to attract investors so we can create thousands of jobs for local people.