Sky has been given the green light to start building their new state-of-the-art film and TV studio in Elstree.
Sky Studios Elstree, which will be built near Elstree Studios, was given planning permission by Hertsmere Borough Council last month.
Sky Studios’ chief financial officer Caroline Cooper said the plan will “boost the local economy and celebrate the best of British and international creativity”.
Oliver Dowden CBE MP, who is also Culture Secretary, said the development will “champion British creativity on the global stage”, and “bring investment, jobs and opportunities to people across Hertsmere – cementing Elstree & Borehamwood’s reputation as the British Hollywood”.
Morris Bright, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, said: “For local people, it means not just jobs – potentially 2,000 roles being created – but a major injection of skills and expertise, which we hope to harness through educational and training opportunities.”
The studio will be built with the backing of Sky’s owner, Comcast, and in partnership with sister company NBCUniversal, and the total area of the site will cover the equivalent of 17 football pitches.
It will film Sky Originals, as well as productions from Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Working Title, and TV shows from Universal Studio Group.
Over the first five years of operation, Sky Studios Elstree expects to generate up to an additional £3billion of production investment in the UK’s creative economy from Sky, NBCUniversal and other producers.
The final design includes 12 sound stages on the site, and it expects to have the capability to generate 20 per cent of its own energy through solar power.
In 2006, Sky became the first carbon-neutral media company in the world and it expects that Sky Studios Elstree will become a key cornerstone of the company’s ambition to become net zero carbon within a decade.
Work to clear the site ready for construction began last month with strict safety and social distancing rules.
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