COULD south Essex become the location of the next Netflix blockbuster series?

A huge new film studio could be on the cards for the Thames Estuary, which industry leaders believe could become the home for streaming services to film their next smash-hit.

According to a report by property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton, the lack of available film studio space in the UK could see major production companies go overseas as demand grows for new content from streaming services.

However, the next streaming blockbuster could be produced along the banks of the River Thames, industry leaders have promised, with over 1.5 million square foot of film studio space and sound stages planned as part of major regeneration projects in Essex, Kent and London that could add billions to the economy and create thousands of jobs.

The Thames Estuary Production Corridor is a new programme to unite east London, the north Kent coast and south Essex to create a world-class centre for creative and cultural production.

As part of a concerted drive to build on this, the Creative Estuary project – a group of public sector and cultural organisations working to reimagine a 60-mile stretch of the Thames Estuary from Southend to Margate – is set on delivering a creative hub. It would feature film and TV studios to harness and propel the talent already blooming in the area.

Permission has now been granted for studios in Purfleet and Dagenham, with the progress discussed at a recent online event where a series of speakers pledged their commitment to the project.

Emma Wilcox, Project Director at Creative Estuary, said: “This report is an important one because it highlights the need we are working to meet. Across Essex and Kent from Southend to Margate, the Thames Estuary has untold creative potential.

“Our aim is to use culture as the catalyst for growth, helping to build a place for creative individuals and businesses to work, collaborate and grow.”

The report from Lambert Smith Hampton suggests that the UK could miss out on billions of pounds of spending in TV and film spending if production companies go overseas.

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However, the vision for the Thames Estuary project is to turn the area into “one of the most exciting creative clusters in the world”, championing the next generation of creative talent and acting as a catalyst for growth.

As the project gathers momentum, key stakeholders met online to look at the progress already made – and what it will mean for creative industries in the future. Among them were representatives from Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited, Thames Estuary Growth Board and the London Collective.

The Thames Estuary Production Corridor Partners has recently selected a team to design and deliver the next phase of an ambitious project. The team will work closely with partners to identify potential development sites across London, Kent and Essex as well as creating action plans for the region’s high growth industries, fashion design and manufacturing and screen-based industries.

The team will also develop feasibility studies for up to five flagship projects across the area.

Ken Dytor, director and founder of Purfleet Centre Regeneration Ltd, said: “Our ambition is to ensure the estuary becomes the UK’s largest and most significant concentration of creative production.”

Existing networks of creative businesses from design, gaming, fashion, filmmaking and music production are already making a significant contribution to the Estuary’s economy.