Written by new-contact on Aug 8, 2014. Posted in On Location

British Film Commission calls for industry feedback on England location filming plans

The British Film Commission and the government have called for feedback from the production industry on new plans to make filming easier in London and England. Currently, the plans will smooth the process enabling productions to create adapted stage space in retrofitted buildings.

The UK government and the British Film Commission are proposing a new “permitted development right” that would enable productions to film more easily and build sets on land up to a hectare in size for up to nine months at a time. Restrictions would include limiting exterior set constructions to around ten metres in height, while listed and historic buildings would be specifically protected.

The plans cover location filming in London and England, but do not currently encompass Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

“It’s our hope that these changes will help address the need to assist our world-class, purpose-built studios with temporary stage space to increase capacity and reduce any red-tape hindering interior and exterior filming in the UK,” said Emma Chappel, Senior Production Services Manager at Creative England.

“Filming on location generates significant investment into England’s regional economies. Depending on a production’s size and budget, they can spend up to GBP42,000 per day on everything from local caterers, security and taxi firms to hotels and restaurants.”

It’s our hope that these changes will help address the need to assist our world-class, purpose-built studios with temporary stage space.

Emma Chappel, Senior Production Services Manager at Creative England

Pinewood and Leavesden are among the major London studios expanding their facilities in response to increased Hollywood demand. Features and TV shows filming in the capital and elsewhere in England - including Kiefer Sutherland's recent Jack Bauer miniseries 24: Live Another Day - increasingly shoot in retrofitted former warehouses and factories. Added location conveniece and a lack of space in purpose-built studios are both common reasons. Easing the process of securing these spaces could help boost location filming across England.

Production industry professionals have until 26 September 2014 to offer their comments on the new plans.

(Editorial note: This article has been amended to remove the incorrent statement that the new plans will apply to the whole of the UK)