Peaky Blinders founder to build massive film studio in West Midlands

Peaky Blinders founder Steven Knight has revealed more about the massive TV and film studio he plans to build in the West Midlands.

The Brummie writer said he wants the studio, with six sound stages, to be up-and running in the next two years.

And, after this ringing endorsement of the region’s creative industry, he is calling on Channel 4 to follow suit.

The Government has put pressure on Channel 4 to move – and the West Midlands campaign to bring it here has won praise in Parliament – with a decision expected in a matter of weeks.

On his studio, Mr Knight said West Midlands Mayor Andy Street had been involved in the work to set it up.

He would not be drawn on where it would be, but Birmingham Live understands land has been found around the NEC.

“The studio is more on the agenda than ever. We are going to make this happen,” Mr Knight said.

“Andy Street is behind it, and is a real dynamo for change in the West Midlands.

“It has taken a lot of time because these things do but what we are talking about is a studio with 27 acres and six sound stages for the film industry and related industries. It would be game changing.

“The BBC are involved now, and Imaginarium, on of the best special effects companies around, I’d hope to bring Channel 4 into the perimeter too.

“If Channel 4 were to miss out on this, I think they would regret it.”

Knight has been in talks with several big Hollywood studio companies about getting on board.

It was reported in 2016 that executives from Paramount had been sounded out.

Speaking to Birmingham Live, Mr Knight said a lot of work had gone into it behind the scenes.

He explained: “We have been meeting monthly for years now, getting on with it without any fanfare.

“We hope within two years we will be open for business.”

Mr Knight is one of the leading lights of the UK film and TV world having written screenplays for the films Closed Circuit, Dirty Pretty Things and Eastern Promises, and also directed as well as written the films Locke and Hummingbird.

His endorsement of the region comes at a perfect time, with the #WMGeneration campaign calling for Channel 4 to move here.

An announcement on whether Channel 4 moves out of London will be made “in the near future”, the Government says.

It follows reports that the Government is preparing legislation to force the broadcaster to move out of its current headquarters in Westminster, London.

Matt Hancock, the Culture Secretary, has instructed officials to being work on laws that could be driven through Parliament if Channel 4 refuses to move voluntarily.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock praised the campaign to bring Channel 4 to the West Midlands.

He said: “I have seen the campaigning with verve by the Mayor of the West Midlands for Channel 4 to move there.

“Our argument is that Channel 4 needs to do more outside of London and I can certainly see the arguments for it moving its headquarters.”

He also hinted that the Government would reject compromise proposals which would see Channel 4 stay in London but commission more programmes from other parts of the country.

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