Productions including Smoggie Queens, I Fought The Law and Jackdaw have filmed at the studios

The Northern Studios in Hartlepool is set to expand as planning approval has been granted for a £33.5m development.

The plans include the construction of larger studios as well as a Screen Industries Production Village nearby, that will repurpose nine disused buildings into pre and post-production spaces, workshops, and collaborative hubs for creative professionals.

Among the buildings to be revamped is the Grade-II listed Shades Hotel, which will be brought back into use alongside several other heritage properties.

The Northern Studios, which opened in 2022, has hosted high-profile productions including feature film Jackdaw, BBC’s Smoggie Queens, and ITV’s I Fought the Law.

The project is being led by Hartlepool Borough Council, in partnership with The Northern School of Art, Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Screen, the region’s screen industries development agency. Funding for the project has been secured from the UK Government and Tees Valley Investment Zone.

TIME + SPACE is acting as development manager and specialist operations and facilities manager in partnership with Leonard Design Architects and Stace, who is acting as quantity surveyor and construction project manager/employers agent on the project.

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Economic Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: “This is a game-changing moment for Hartlepool – not just for our creative industries, but for the town as a whole.

“The £33.5 million investment into expanding our film and television production facilities will create over 130 new jobs, attract further private sector investment, and deliver a lasting boost to our local economy.

“We’re transforming nine disused buildings into dynamic spaces for production, innovation, and collaboration, breathing new life into areas that have long needed revitalisation. This development will help nurture local talent, support small businesses, and position Hartlepool as a serious player in the UK’s creative sector.

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor enthused: “This is fantastic news for Hartlepool and the whole of Teesside. The expansion of The Northern Studios and the creation of a brand-new TV and film production village will put our region firmly on the map as a home for world-class screen industries.

“Not only will this huge investment bring derelict buildings back to life, it will also create high-quality jobs and opportunities for local people in an exciting and growing sector.”

Piers Read, CEO of TIME + SPACE, added: “TIME + SPACE is delighted to have advised on this hugely significant regeneration in Hartlepool. As specialists in developing creatively led real estate, we are excited to be going forward by revitalising these much loved but overlooked urban spaces by turning them into vibrant communities driven by film, entertainment, media and hospitality.”