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ATV and film production facility in Bristol is on track for a blockbuster £12 million expansion.
An outline business case submitted to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) by Bristol City Council for expansion of The Bottle Yard Studios into the neighbouring Hawkfield Business Park was approved last Friday by the WECA Committee.
The committee approved the release of £135,000 to develop a full business case and the allocation of a further £11.73 million for the site purchase costs and to enable the works.
The expansion plan includes the conversion of an industrial property located at Hawkfield Business Park, less than half a mile from the main Bottle Yard site, into three massive new sound stages.
Complete with ancillary spaces including production offices, prop stores, costume and makeup areas and break out spaces, the work will enhance the studio’s reputation as one of the finest in the UK.
The proposed works will take the number of sound stages available at The Bottle Yard from eight to 11, while improvement work will also be carried out on the existing buildings at the main site in Whitchurch.
The project is intended to maintain and grow film and TV production in Bristol and the West of England.
It is estimated that the expansion will create around 1,000 jobs over a ten-year period.
Tim Bowles, Mayor of the West of England, said: “The Bottle Yard Studios is a terrific example of our region’s vibrant creative sector that brings so much joy to people right across the globe.
“I’m very pleased that as part of our Economic Recovery plan, we can help Bottle Yard Studios with £11.8m to expand and, with support from my team at Invest Bristol and Bath, attract more production companies to the West of England to help showcase the wonderful talent and opportunities we have in our region.”
A Bristol City Council initiative, The Bottle Yard Studios is the largest dedicated film and TV studio facility in the West of England region.
Since opening in 2010 it has transformed a disused industrial site in South Bristol into a major hub for film and television production.
Titles currently in production at The Bottle Yard Studios include Stephen Merchant’s new BBC/Amazon Prime series The Offenders starring Christopher Walken, Netflix Original series The Last Bus and Starz Original Series Becoming Elizabeth starring Alicia von Rittenberg.
The Studios are also home to gameshows Tipping Point and Tipping Point Lucky Stars (ITV), The Crystal Maze (Channel 4) and The Crystal Maze US (Nickelodeon).
Laura Aviles, senior Bristol film manager for Bristol City Council responsible for The Bottle Yard Studios & Bristol Film Office, said: “With more high-end TV titles opting to shoot in Bristol than ever before, this expansion will enable The Bottle Yard Studios to attract an even greater percentage of that potential business to the region.
“Valuable jobs will be generated for Bristol’s talented crew base, local companies will see an increase in workflow and vital career opportunities for industry entrants from all parts of the city will be created, particularly for those living close to the studios in South Bristol,” she said.