TCDI announces £250m investment in Kent studio

March 23rd, 2020

The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI Co.) has partnered with property developers Quinn Estates to deliver a £250 million investment in Kent’s TV and Film studios. This news comes despite the huge shockwaves caused to business by the coronavirus pandemic, and builds on a £50 million development with Twickenham Studios as the company looks to invest £500 million across the country. The development of the derelict Newtown Railway Works will create four new TV and Film studios in 240,000 square foot of dedicated production space, the plans for which you can see in these images. It is also expected to create jobs in the local area of Ashford. This space will be split in to 80,000 sq. ft of studios, 80,000 sq. ft of ancillary production space, 50,000 sq. ft of mill store and 30,000 sq. ft of media village. The latter will contain the Future Media Centre, an educational

New $292 Million Film & TV Studios to Be Built in Ashford, South-East England

The Creative District Improvement Company has teamed up with property developers Quinn Estates to invest £250 million ($292 million) in Ashford International Studios, a new film and TV studios in Ashford, South-East England, which they say will create 3,000 jobs. The 15-acre site was formerly a locomotive manufacturing plant until the early 1980s. The companies will convert the derelict Newtown Railway Works into 80,000 sq. ft. of studio space, 80,000 sq. ft. of ancillary production space, 50,000 sq. ft. of storage space, and a 30,000 sq. ft. media village, which will include the Future Media Center, an educational hub that will be developed in partnership with a cluster of educational institutions in the area. The plans also include a 120-room hotel, 68 serviced apartments, a conference center, and a 10,000 sq. ft. gym, restaurant and leisure space. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2021. The Creative District Improvement

U.K. Studios Fund to Invest in $290 Million Complex Outside London

With the U.K.’s film and TV production in lockdown amid the new coronavirus epidemic, a major new studio facility is hoping to be up and running by the time it kickstarts again. Amid the ongoing crisis related to the new coronavirus that has shut down most film and TV production across the U.K., a proposed new studio facility aimed at capitalizing on the recent British production boom is set to receive 250 million pounds ($290 million) of funding. Newly launched U.K. studios investment fund the Creative District Improvement Company, set up by real estate developer Piers Read, producer of hit Brit comedies The Inbetweeners and Peep Show, and Jeremy Rainbird, who helped launch Sharon Horgan’s label Merman, has teamed with property developer Quinn Estates on the new site in the British county of Kent. To be built on a derelict former locomotive factory in Ashford, south east of London, the proposed development —

Hollywood-style studio in Kent moves step closer despite UK shutdown

A new Hollywood-style production studio planned for Ashford in Kent has come a step closer after securing £250m in funding, as its backers aim to capitalise on the Netflix-led boom in TV and film production. The project is being led by Piers Read, producer of The Inbetweeners and Peep Show, and Jeremy Rainbird, who launched Merman, the production company behind shows including Channel 4’s Catastrophe. The proposed site is the derelict Newtown railway works, a locomotive manufacturing site from 1847 until it was shut in the early 1980s. The site, based in the UK’s longest-listed building, will be part of a 240,000 sq ft development that will include four TV and film studios, as well as an educational hub, film school, 120-room hotel and 302 private residential units. The duo’s company, The Creative District Improvement Company, has teamed up with Quinn Estates to develop the site, which they said would generate 3,000 jobs

U.K.’s Twickenham Studios Set for Revamp in $64 Million Deal

March 3rd, 2020

The U.K.’s Twickenham Studios is set for major investment following a £50 million ($64 million) deal that has seen property developer General Projects and urban regeneration specialists The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI) take a 50% stake in the studios. The stake was acquired from Twickeham Studios owner Sunny Vohra, who will continue as chairman. Vohra holds the remaining 50% stake. General Projects is working in partnership with the British Airways Pension Fund and helped fund the acquisition of Twickenham Studios. TCDI and its subsidiary Time + Space Studios said they intend to capitalize on high demand for studio facilities in the U.K. created by streaming giants such as Amazon, Apple and Netflix. TCDI was founded by former Wimbledon Studios boss Piers Read and producer Jeremy Rainbird. TCDI said it plans to develop more production facilities at Twickenham, including film stages, flexible workspace for the creative industries as well as a new event

London tycoons Piers Read and Jeremy Rainbird in £500m film studios venture

Two of London’s top TV and advertising tycoons have secured £500 million of institutional investment to build Britain’s first network of world-class film studios and capitalise on the Netflix-led boom in production. The Evening Standard has learned that Piers Read, producer of The Inbetweeners and Peep Show, and Jeremy Rainbird, the adman who launched Bafta-winning Merman have started with the takeover of the historic Twickenham Studios and have plans for around six major studio complexes around the UK. They plan to invest £50 million in Twickenham, updating the stages and regenerating the post-production facilities and providing modern office space aimed at businesses in the creative industry. Their company, The Creative District Improvement Company, has also applied for planning to build a £148 million new studio complex in Kent near the Ashford International train station, which will have four large stages totalling 80,000 square feet, plus a hotel and apartments for

$640 Million U.K. Studios Fund Launches, Acquires London’s Twickenham

The new fund aims to invest in a network of studios across the U.K. where production spend last year hit an all-time high. The U.K.’s growing status as one of the world’s leading film and TV production hubs and the ever-increasing demand for studio space has led to the creation of a new 500 million pound ($640 million) investment fund. The Creative District Improvement Company — founded by real estate developers Piers Read, producer of hit Brit comedies The Inbetweeners and Peep Show, and Jeremy Rainbird, who helped launch Sharon Horgan’s label Merman — was unveiled Monday to capitalize on the boom created by the likes of Amazon, Apple and Netflix. The fund is set to be invested in a network of film studios across the U.K., with the founders claiming that they aim to open “one million square feet of production space by 2024.” As part of the launch, the company unveiled

British film studios secure £500m funding

The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI) and subsidiary operating company, Time + Space Studios, are to invest £500 million in a network of film studios across the UK. It is looking to take advantage of a studio boom generated by streaming giants such as Amazon and Netflix. The first investment will be a £50 million acquisition and planned improvement of Twickenham Studios. Recently the studio won an Oscar for its sound work on Bohemian Rhapsody, and a BAFTA for mixing work on 1917. TCDI will also develop educational partnerships with the likes of Kent University. This is intended to bridge the skills gap in the economy. The acquisition and improvement of Twickenham Studios will include an expansion into Liverpool and should boost the local economy as well as create revenues. Further investments into studio spaces in Kent and Liverpool are planned, which will provide more jobs in

And action! Ditched Dagenham studio plan back on, says developer

November 20th, 2019

Preferred bidder for site shelved plan due to Brexit but rival still keen as studio demand booms Stalled plans to build a Hollywood-style studio in Dagenham East have been thrown a lifeline, with a backer offering £179m to get the first new TV and film studio built in London in 25 years. The project has been in doubt after a developer put proposals on hold indefinitely, citing Brexit uncertainty. However, another party with support from Netflix and a Hollywood film company has said its bid still stands and that the project can survive the EU-UK melodrama. “Our offer, our bid, is still there,” said Piers Read, the co-founder of the Creative District Improvement Company (TCDIC), which lost out last year when Barking and Dagenham council picked the Los Angeles-based developer Pacifica Ventures. “We hope to go back in and see it to fruition. The demand for filming in this country

Is this Kent site Britain’s answer to Hollywood?

October 31st, 2019

It’s the longest listed building in Britain and it has been derelict for more than 20 years. But bold new plans have been revealed that could turn Ashford’s former railway works into Britain’s answer to Hollywood – a production base for big broadcasters like Netflix. The project could provide a huge boost to the town and wider community, creating jobs for more than 3,000 workers. The development will also include residential apartments and a hotel. Tony Green reports.

“Netflix set to move into TV studios on Ashford railway works site”

October 30th, 2019

Video streaming giant Netflix is set to make new film and TV studios in Ashford its UK base, KentOnline understands. Mark Quinn of Quinn Estates is hoping to transform derelict engine sheds on the former railway works in Newtown Road into seven state-of-the-art studios. The prolific developer says he is in discussions with a number of international content providers and is unable to confirm or deny which firm is moving in. But it is believed subscription service Netflix – which is looking for additional studio space across Europe – has its sights set on the 12-acre plot. The online giant has millions of subscribers worldwide, with viewers able to stream films and programmes to devices including TVs and mobile phones. As well as making Hollywood hits available for subscribers to stream, Netflix also makes its own productions – something which could happen in Ashford if the bold project goes ahead. The

Council injects £3.4m to fund film studio plans after Brexit blow

October 29th, 2019

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has agreed to find £3.4m to keep development work going on a planned film studio complex after its California-based preferred partner for the project got cold feet. Pacifica Ventures, the film studio developer, had an exclusivity agreement with the authority over the redevelopment of part of the former Sanofi pharmaceuticals site in Dagenham after it was selected last year. But the exclusivity deal has ended and borough regeneration chiefs said Brexit uncertainty was to blame for the company’s decision not to push ahead to the agreed timescale. A meeting of Barking and Dagenham’s cabinet was this week told there was “very strong” demand for studio space in the capital and sought consent to commit up to £3.4m from the council’s investment and acquisitions budget to fund design and development work on the project. A report to cabinet members said the funding would cover the

We Masterplan...

...advise, develop and operate mixed-use schemes for the creative industries. Making places that revitalise urban neighbourhoods in the UK.

We Develop...

...as development managers we draw on years of experience and knowledge to create schemes that drive significant value for all stakeholders including leading property developers from around the world.

We Operate...

...offering practical solutions for film and TV studios; centred around creative entrepreneurship, community engagement and business enterprise.

The Story...

...has unfolded over the past decade as unprecedented growth in the Film and TV sector has contributed towards record levels of UK inward investment into the creative industries.

Incentive

The government introduces a UK film tax break which supercharges inward investment to the UK, with £2.3 billion paid out since it was introduced.

Innovation

Netflix launches the first iteration of its streaming platform which begins the content revolution and the catalyst for the increased demand for available studio space in the UK.

Future-proof

The sustainability of the creative industries workforce is supported by Nesta in their report 'Creativity Vs Robots’. At least one million additional creative jobs are needed in the UK by 2023 to offset effects of automation.

Skills Gap

UK feature film production spend rises to £1.9 billion, a new record. With increased production, comes increased workforce demand. The BFI publish the Future Film Skills Action Plan report, highlighting a growing skills gaps within the UK Film and TV industry.

Growth

The creative industries account for over £111 billion of GVA in the UK, providing 2 million jobs and growing twice as fast as the economy as a whole.

Expansion

A decade after Netflix launched its streaming service; Apple, Amazon and Netflix collectively allocate $28 billion per year to produce original content.

Demand

Disney and Netflix secure exclusive 10 year leases of Pinewood and Shepperton Studios. This is the catalyst for record levels of demand for studio space in the UK.

Deficit

To meet current demand for UK film and high end TV production, land the size of 130 football pitches is needed to host the 2.5 million square feet of new studio space required by 2032.

Our Solution...

...In order to address the issue of demand, TCDI Co. begins delivery of developing brand new creative neighbourhoods in the UK including 1 million square feet of dedicated, world-class film and TV production space by 2024.

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