Film producers interested in studio - developer

A developer behind plans for a new studio complex on a former RAF base said film producers were already interested in using the facilities.

The proposed site at Tattersett Business Park near Fakenham, Norfolk, would include five sound stages on which to shoot films, along with workshops and other offices.

Developer Roger Gawn claimed that the studios could lead to the creation of up to 350 jobs and that he had "productions lurking in the pipeline".

North Norfolk District Council's planning committee voted to give outline permission for the project, subject to proof that rivers will not be polluted through "nutrient loading" from the development.

Mr Gawn said the project would be "a major benefit to north Norfolk" and that producers had already expressed interest in using the studios once built.

"I've got a major feature film that could be filmed here. I've also got a ten-part TV series that's going to be made here," he added.

He said that constructing the studio site would cost about £50m and that he had potential investors lined up from the UK and overseas.

Mr Gawn also said he planned to use "modular film studio buildings", which could be assembled in as little as four months.

Mr Gawn's ownership of Tattersett Business Park, which he bought in 2009, has attracted controversy because of a tyre mountain on the site.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the huge pile began to grow after the site began being used by a tyre collection business in 1998.

After buying the site on part of the former RAF Sculthorpe, Mr Gawn pledged to remove the tyres – which are said to have numbered more than a million – but many still remains.

He said that he was in the process of disposing of them, with around a third moved.

Tattersett Parish Council objected to the studio plan, fearing there was no guarantee the mountain will be removed.

It also said it had "little confidence" the project will be completed due to funding not being in place.

Environmental protection officers from council also opposed the scheme, predominantly due to noise concerns.

Despite those objections, councillors unanimously approved the plan, on the condition that proof can be given that sewage generated by people using the site will not break rules on nutrient neutrality.

Mr Gawn said he was "confident" that the condition could be met and he hoped to begin work on construction of the studios in a year's time.

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