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post updated 18 September 2025

Planning approval secured for major expansion of Hartlepool’s film and TV production industry

Wednesday 17th September 2025: A £33.5 million major expansion of film and television production facilities in Hartlepool is officially underway, following planning approval being granted for a transformative new development.

The Northern Studios will undergo an expansion, including the construction of larger studios and the installation of industry-leading equipment and facilities. In addition, a Screen Industries Production Village will be developed in the surrounding area, repurposing nine disused buildings into cutting-edge pre and post-production spaces, workshops, and collaborative hubs for creative professionals.

Screen Industries Production Village in Hartlepool:

image : Leonard Design Architects; Hartlepool Borough Council

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

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.

Piers Read, CEO of TIME + SPACE, said: “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.”

Northern Studios in Hartlepool:

image : Leonard Design Architects; Hartlepool Borough Council

John Holden, Director Major Projects at Leonard Design, said:
“Leonard Design is proud to be designing and delivering the transformational Hartlepool Screen Industries Production Village and Northern Studios expansion, working alongside TIME + SPACE and in collaboration with Hartlepool Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority. This visionary project establishes Hartlepool as the North East’s premier creative district, creating significant employment while transforming disused town centre buildings into vibrant creative workspaces and securing the town’s place at the heart of the UK’s rapidly expanding screen industries sector.

Simon Hugill, Partner at Stace, said “This success marks the next step in a transformational masterplan for Hartlepool and Tees Valley, which will have a rippling impact across the UK’s creative industries. It will catalyse regeneration in Hartlepool and drive further investment, as intended by the Levelling Up Funding it has received for the production village and ancillary buildings.

“Working together with our partners TIME + SPACE, Hartlepool Borough Council, Tees Valley Corporation Authority and the wider project team, we have been pleased to support the delivery of this planning consent for the new studios, production village and ancillary buildings in a way that responds to the specialist needs of this sector, the parameters of its funding, and local context.”

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.

I’m incredibly proud of the partnership working that has brought us to this point. Together, we’re creating jobs, driving investment, and laying the foundations for a more prosperous and vibrant future for Hartlepool.”

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor said: “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.

“We have already seen through shows like I Fought The Law how we are telling powerful and engaging stories about Teesside, Hartlepool and Darlington – and these new facilities will build on that to deliver something truly transformational for the town and wider region.”

The Northern Studios, which opened in 2022, have already hosted high-profile productions including the feature film Jackdaw, BBC’s Smoggie Queens, and ITV’s I Fought the Law. The expansion will build on this success, attracting both national and international productions to the town.

With planning approvals now in place and funding secured, construction is expected to begin within the coming months.

TIME + SPACE

TIME + SPACE is a specialist in adaptive re-use of urban environments, and makes places by turning them into vibrant, thriving districts. They advise, develop, and operate, guiding every step of the journey to include strategic vision & master planning, design, development & construction and operational management & activation. Specialising in creative real estate — entertainment, tech, culture, and hospitality — we deliver turn-key solutions that spark regeneration and create lasting social and economic impact.
https://www.time-space.uk

Hartlepool Borough Council

Hartlepool Borough Council is a unitary authority covering the borough of Hartlepool.

Hartlepool is located on the North East coast at the eastern end of the Tees Valley. It is compact and densely populated, covering an area of 9,386 hectares with an estimated population of over 95,000, living in over 45,000 households.

A former heavily industrialised town which continues to have a significant port facility, millions of pounds are being invested in the borough in a series of high-profile regeneration schemes led by the Council and aimed at developing the borough as a visitor destination and creating new sustainable employment opportunities in high-tech/creative industries.
www.hartlepool.gov.uk

Tees Valley Combined Authority

The Tees Valley Combined Authority was created in April 2016. Its purpose is to drive economic growth and job creation in the area. It is a partnership of five authorities; Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees, working closely with the business community and other partners to make local decisions to support the growth of our economy.

Northern School of Art

The Northern School of Art is the North East’s only specialist art and design school, with an Ofsted Outstanding (2025) further education site in central Middlesbrough and a TEF Gold (2023) degree and postgraduate campus in Hartlepool. Drawing on more than 150 years of creative education, the School offers award-winning pathways for learners aged 6+—from weekly Saturday Clubs and Arts Award to further, higher and postgraduate study.

Teaching is led by industry-active tutors and supported by sector-standard facilities and equipment. Notable alumni include Sir Ridley Scott and Mackenzie Thorpe. Learn more at www.northernart.ac.uk. Follow (at)thenorthernart on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

North East Screen

North East Screen is the screen agency for the North East. We develop and champion North East England as one of the UK’s leading film and TV production hubs where exceptional screen industry talent can live, create and work. We support all incoming productions with crew, locations and facilities shooting anywhere in the North East England through our free and invaluable Film Office.

We manage the North East Production Fund on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership. We work with Indie production companies based in the North East providing them with business and commission development support. We offer professional support to home grown freelancers including writers, producers and directors and artist filmmakers. We connect experienced crew to job opportunities and, for those just starting out and wanting to work in film and TV, we run the NE Screen Crew Academy.
www.northeastscreen.org

North East Screen Industries Partnership

North East Screen Industries Partnership was formed by Combined and Local Authorities from across the region to level up the regional film and TV industries by more than doubling its 2019 share of the UK production market.

It includes Tees Valley Combined Authority, (representing the five authorities of Hartlepool Borough Council, Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council, Darlington Borough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council), and the North East Combined Authority, representing its partner authorities: Northumberland County Council, North Tyneside Council, Newcastle City Council, Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council.

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Previously on e-architect:

County Durham Building News

County Durham Architecture Designs

2 Oct 2017
Durham University Centre for Teaching and Learning Building, Lower Mountjoy
Design: FaulknerBrowns Architects

image courtesy of architects
The building, at Lower Mountjoy, will host a wide range of learning environments and technologies, including new classrooms that will allow students to share courses in real time with students from peer institutions around the world.

13 Jul 2017
Auckland Castle Building
Architects: Purcell

image courtesy of architects
Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland will be returned to its original Georgian Gothic opulence on behalf of regional charity, Auckland Castle Trust (ACT). Purcell is lead consultant and conservation-accredited architects working on 900-year-old building.

page updated 5 Aug 2016 ; 23 Sep 2015
The Chapel on the Hill Forest-in-Teesdale Building, County Durham, Northeast England
Architects: Evolution Design

photograph : Chris Humphreys
The Chapel on the Hill is set in the very best walking area of the beautiful North Pennines, just a short walk from the famous High Force Waterfall, this stunning chapel conversion with its historic building fabric and modern interior design is a real Teesdale jewel.

26 Jun 2012
Roseberry Park Middlesbrough
Design: Medical Architecture

photo : Jill Tate
This is a large and ambitious project for a 312 bed mental health village undertaken under the Public Finance Initiative. This new building type is currently being reassessed by the NHS to see how they work for patients and staff.

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County Durham Design Contest

Middlehaven Docks Contest : Timber Hut Competition
Date: 2011

picture from organisers
Middlehaven Docks Contest

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County Durham Buildings

Buildings in County Durham, alphabetical:

Clements Wharf Durham Houses, Durham City
Design: Red Box Interiors

image from architects

Coolmore Estate project, Seaham, east Durham
Date built: 2008-
Design: Michael Drain Architects
Planning permission gained in May 2008
£200m approximate building construction cost

Durham Millennium City Project, Durham
Date built: 2003
Design: MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Ltd

Information/cafe building, Teesside Retail Park, Stockton on Tees
Design: Walker Bushe Architects

photograph from architects
Stockton on Tees building

James Cook University Hospital>, Middlesbrough
Design: NBBJ Architects

image from architects

mima – new Middlesbrough art gallery, County Durham, northeast England
Design: Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects

photo © Christian Richters
County Durham building
Location: Middlesbrough town centre adj. Carnegie Library
Close by: ‘Bottle of Notes’ – Claes Oldenburg & Coosje Van Bruggen Sculpture

Middlehaven Regeneration Masterplan, Middlesbrough
£200m regeneration of former docks: homes, hotel, offices & leisure facilities
Masterplan Architects: Studio Egret West
Architects: Grimshaw & FAT
Tees Valley Regeneration + BioRegional Quintain