Plans approved for creative hub and film studios at former RAF airfield
Plans have been approved for the redevelopment of the former RAF Church Fenton site into a new creative hub, which could support around 1,800 jobs.
Known as Creative Yorkshire, the project will provide commercial space for a wide array of businesses from within the creative industries on one built-for-purpose site alongside permanently establishing television and film production at the site.
Makin Enterprises took on the 450-acre former RAF Church Fenton aerodrome in December 2014.
The development will be split across two areas.
The Northern Section – where Create Yorkshire is to be located – targets creative, digital or media businesses with a central campus park at the centre. The new buildings will range in size, from large units, to smaller units suitable for startup businesses.
The Southern Section – Studios – will be a studio area for commercial film-making. Currently Hangar 1 is used by Mammoth Screen for ITV’s Victoria production, along with the workshops and stores, which are being used as TV production facilities.
Hangar 2 and Hangar 3 will be converted permanently into further TV and film studios (termed ‘stages’) and additional built space could be provided within this studio area. Alongside this is retained aviation structures, in an ‘aviation hub’ that would operate in association with the runways and taxiways.
Multidisciplinary consultant Pegasus Group secured planning permission from Selby District Council on Tuesday afternoon.
Chris Makin of Makin Enterprises, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive the unanimous backing of Selby District Council on the next phase of this exciting project, which is set to change the creative landscape of the region.
“Create Yorkshire is an opportunity to attract unprecedented investment, growth and innovation and which we look forward to delivering the plans in the very near future.”
Chris Calvert, planning director at Pegasus Group’s Leeds office, added: “Alongside a compelling masterplanning exercise, making the economic case for the proposed development was one of the key parts of the application and Pegasus Group was able to produce detailed analysis looking at the numerous benefits the scheme will create once it is developed and operational.
“The project will build on the reputation gained by the successful production of ITV’s Victoria at the site and it is hoped that the location could attract educational institutions with the potential for a campus on site.
“The studios will sit alongside a creative industries employment campus and in total the scheme is predicted to bring about around 1,800 new jobs to the region, fitting with the national and regional agenda for growth in this sector.”
Specialist advice was provided by Scott Royal of Royal Pilgrim Communication, supported by WSP, Alan Wood and Partners and Wright Environment.
