Outline Planning has been sought by Ikon Film Studios for a new film and TV Studios at Tattersett Business Park, the former technical area for RAF Sculthorpe.
Roger Gawn, a local businessman who also owns a nearby tyre mountain that contains over a million tyres – which are currently being removed, has submitted plans on behalf of his company Ikon Film Studios to North Norfolk District Council.
The studios intend to capitalise on the site’s direct access to local landscapes and location filming and provide a base to continue filming the remainder of the production locally, rather than returning to the historic M25 corridor.
The Studios will comprise five sound stages, plus workshops, offices and amenities totalling 190,000 sq ft.
Landscaping and biodiversity is a fundamental part of the development, with large areas of the development set aside for landscape improvements to improve this otherwise disused and unattractive brownfield site.
It is estimated the proposal will create up to 600 jobs, and provide a significant economic boost to the local economy.
Education and a gateway into the industry for local people are an intrinsic part of the proposal, with education facilities on-site being proposed to enable apprenticeships and training opportunities for the variety of jobs that are part of the industry.
There also appears to be a possible “VP” stage, which may mean virtual production, in the “proposed site plan” image supplied, but this is not mentioned in the planning statement.
It is also intended that one of the larger stages will include a water tank for amphibious TV and film productions, and the entire facility aims to cater for productions from micro to high end, including TV, film and music video productions.
There will also be attached costume and make-up facilities for each stage, as well as a production office, offices, a concession and amenity building, and the possibility for a film school for filmakers both in-front and behind the camera – which it hopes to run in partnership with the University of East Anglia, Norwich University of the Arts and Norfolk Screen. As such, the film studio hopes to use crew from the local area.
Stage Fifty is down to provide the stages, having also worked on Winnersh Film Studios in Berkshire, Bray Film Studios in Buckinghamshire and Farnborough Film Studios in Surrey.
