Sky Studios Elstree, the UK’s new state-of-the-art film and TV studio, has received the green light to proceed with construction works following a unanimous decision last night by Hertsmere Borough Council.
Work to clear the site ready for construction begins this month and will commence with strict safety and social distancing guidelines.
The final design for Sky Studios Elstree sees 12 sound stages on site, with the ability to merge together and sub-divide multiple sound stages simultaneously, providing flexibility and scalability to accommodate productions of all sizes.
This means that the biggest sound stages on-site can now increase to cover 60,000 sqft if needed or reduce to much smaller segregated studios, simultaneously providing Sky Studios and NBCUniversal a COVID-19-ready set up for the future. The production facilities and digital suites on site will also be set up to facilitate remote working.
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Over the first five years of operation, it is expected that Sky Studios Elstree will generate up to an additional £3 billion of production investment in the UK’s creative economy from Sky, NBCUniversal and other producers.
The construction phase of the build will contribute £230 million to UK GDP in the period 2020 – 2021. Creating 900 jobs during construction and once the studio is operational it will lead to the creation of a further 1500.
Sky Studios Elstree will also build on its existing work in this area of focusing on young talent via the Sky Academy Studios and Mama Youth Project, an initiative that equips young people, aged between 18-25 years of age from under-represented groups, with the necessary skills to work in the TV industry.
