Step forward for 'transformational' film studio plan

The complex will be built on former shipyard sites on the banks of the Wear

Plans to build a major TV and film studio complex in a city have taken a step forward.

Crown Works Studios on the banks of the River Wear in Pallion, Sunderland, would provide thousands of jobs and deliver a boost for north-east England's creative industries.

It follows the announcement earlier this year of the government's "trailblazer deal" - a devolution package for the North East - which would provide funding towards the £450m development.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness and the region’s council leaders have now given the sign-off to progress an initial £25m of that funding.

The cabinet meeting of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) formally approved the "trailblazer deal" on Tuesday, which includes the £25m cash injection, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It was also agreed that NECA officials and Sunderland City Council would draw up proposals for further investment into the "transformational" project.

In addition, the cabinet backed £2.5m of continued investment in the North East Screen Industries Partnership, a partnership between local authorities and the BBC to grow the region’s TV and film sectors.

The Labour mayor said: "We are absolutely committed to cultural and creative industries and to treating those sectors not as an add-on, not as something that is just nice to have, but as an area where we want to to create jobs right across the region and really lead on in this country."