Plans for a brand new film and tv production studio in East Cowes are still live, the Isle of Wight Council insists, nearly a year after they were first unveiled.
County Hall says it is still progressing with the sale of land, at what is currently known as Kingston Marine Park, to Medina Studios.
In turn, the business behind the scheme is working up plans with its design and construction team and no application has been put forward yet.
Creating nearly 1,000 jobs
Duncan Heath, David Godfrey and Neil Blewett, who all have experience in the film and TV sectors, are behind the proposal for the site off Saunders Way.
Sound studios, production workshops, offices and other related facilities could be built, creating nearly 1,000 jobs.
A ‘key priority’
Asked for an update on its progress, an Isle of Wight Council spokesperson called the delivery of the Kingston Marine Park site ‘a key priority.’
Strikes by writers and actors caused Hollywood to shut down in May and they have impacted UK studio activity as well, said the council.
A ‘race for space’
The industry is expected to finish existing projects before starting new ones next year and will then need space to make them, it said, adding it wants to finalise, complete and deliver the sale ahead of a ‘race for space’, in 2024.
The site had been earmarked for the marine manufacturing industry but environmental regulations limited what could happen there, which ultimately meant marine use was discounted altogether.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
