Minister gives his backing to hunt for new funds

A SENIOR Labour minister has promised his personal support in finding new backers for Sunderland's Crown Works film studio vision.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

Wearside-born business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has promised to do “anything” in his power to help put the flagship development back on track, following a commitment from Sir Keir Starmer last week that it had the Government's full backing.

It emerged earlier this summer that financiers Cain International, the main private investor behind the £450 million regeneration, had pulled out of the scheme to transform a site on the banks of the Wear into a huge film and TV production hub.

The search is now on for new investment to allow the project, which it had been claimed would create more than 8,000 jobs, to go ahead as planned.

Global entertainment company Fulwell Entertainment, who had partnered with Cain on the joint venture, said it remains committed to the vision and working with Sunderland Council to find new funding.