City leader 'expecting to start first phase of film studios in the new year

Sunderland City Council's leader has said he expects the transformational Crown Works Film Studios will go ahead in 2026.

- by Neil Fatkin

There was major disappointment in June when the plan's main backers, financiers Cain International, pulled out of the development.

The Government has provided an initial £25million cash injection, via the devolution deal which established the North East mayor, while Sunderland City Council and the North East Combined Authority have committed to ultimately invest up to £120million.

However, this still leaves the project around £300million short of the £450million original estimated cost of the development on the 80-acre site on the banks of the River Wear.

In October, Sunderland City Council announced that global real estate service advisor CBRE has been appointed to spearhead the search for new private investors.

Earlier this month, Mayor Kim McGuiness and the North East Combined Authority announced £600,000 of investment to help establish a Creative Development Zone in the city, seeing Sunderland emerge as a creative capital for the north, with Crown Works identified as a key part of this development.