Woodward targets TV and film with Space Project
AN east Manchester “drama hub” with 55,000 sq ft of production stages has been named The Space Project.
The former Fujitsu site in Gorton, which has a total of 360,000 sq ft, is the third phase of the Newton Heath-based Sharp Project which has space for creative businesses as well as stages.
The Space Project is due to open in May with four 11,500 sq ft stages and a fifth of 9,000 sq ft, construction workshops, prop stores, and flexible office space. When fully let, up to 500 people will be employed on site by production companies and tenants.
It has been devised by Sue Woodward project director at The Sharp Project. She said: “It’s important for the region’s economy to capitalise on the UK’s expanding drama production sector which, in part, is driven by tax breaks introduced by the Government last April 2013.
“The Space Project creates a new offer for the North of England that will generate interest from producers and broadcasters both in the UK and overseas. With so much high spec production and back stage space available it seemed fitting to call the building The Space Project. To have a purpose built drama stage complex in Manchester is very exciting and will help satisfy the relentless demand for such facilities here in the UK.”
Manchester-based firm PRP Architects, which designed The Sharp Project, has been commissioned again for The Space Project. The building contractor is Willmott Dixon and project management is being delivered by MACE with Turner Townsend overseeing finance.
Manchester City Council is commiting £10.6m to cover the cost of converting the site. The Sharp Project was set up with £16.5m from the council, the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund.
