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‘Bottle Yard Studios expansion will keep Bristol on the map as a leading base for film and TV’
Proposals to expand and partially relocate Hengrove’s Bottle Yard Studios mark an exciting new chapter for the facility, says its director.
Welcoming Bristol City Council’s decision to purchase land and buildings at Hawkfield Business Park, Fiona Francombe outlined details of the long-term plan for the thriving film and TV production facility.
She said the partial relocation and expansion of the studios to the new site half a mile down the road will enable the business to increase its capacity in order to attract and cater for high-profile productions that benefit south Bristol.
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Fiona Francombe says this is an exciting new chapter for the studios
Giving some background to the decision made at Bristol City Council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Francombe said:
“The Hengrove Park regeneration project has been in development since before The Bottle Yard Studios opened its doors in 2010.
“It will bring a number of benefits to south Bristol, including employment, housing and community facilities.
“However, we’ve always known that a prolonged period of construction set to take place in close proximity to The Bottle Yard site would need to be carefully planned for.”
Read more: Land for 350 homes as part of major south Bristol regeneration
The council’s acquisition of the Kelston Gears site, on Hawkfield Business Park, will enable the development and implementation of a longer-term plan to refurbish existing buildings into new sound stages.
These will replace the three or four existing units on the Botte Yard’s current Whitchurch Lane site, which are likely to be affected by building noise.
Plans also include the construction of two new studio spaces.
Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock – shot at The Bottle Yard Studios
Francombe said this will enable the business to increase its capacity and cater for more film and TV productions in “superior, more modern surroundings, representing an exciting new chapter for the studios”.
“In the past eight years, The Bottle Yard Studios has transformed an unused industrial site into a thriving film and TV production base, home to 23 tenant businesses,” she continued.
“We have hosted more than 50 productions and have become a key cornerstone to Bristol’s production industry, helping generate £15.2 million for the city last year.
“The success of the studios has boosted skills, training and employment; 470 jobs were created on site in the past year alone.
“We welcome this decision which will help us continue to attract and cater for high-profile productions that benefit this part of the city, whilst keeping Bristol firmly on the map as a leading base for TV and film production.”
Read more: New site could expand opportunities at Hengrove’s Bottle Yard Studios
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