Space Studios to add stages as streaming market booms

Manchester Creative Digital Assets has appointed PRP to design a 70,000 sq ft expansion of the Manchester film and TV studio amid increasing popularity of on-demand platforms like Netflix.

The 70,000 sq ft expansion would see the creation of two 20,000 sq ft sound stages for the production of TV and film, together with 30,000 sq ft of support space.  

A new reception area, café and additional flexible support space are also proposed. 

The expansion project would see the Vaughan Street facility grow to 17 acres, with a total of 120,000 sq ft of stage space. 

Despite the global suspension in production as a result of Covid-19, investment in 2020 from major international productions reached £2.34bn, highlighting the ongoing strength and creativity of the UK’s screen industries, according to Space Studios. 

“The UK tax break and the ever-growing need for content from streaming services has meant demand for studio space in the UK has been at an all-time high,” said Rob Page, managing director of Space Studios. 

The industry’s growth is also reflected in Liverpool, where Capital & Centric is advancing plans to create a £54m campus for the film and TV industry. While that project is worked up, two 20,000 sq ft pop-up studios are being constructed by Morgan Sindall for a scheme known as The Depot. 

Alistair Weir, partner at PRP said: “The demand for purpose-built space to support the growth in film and high-end TV continues to thrive and we’re delighted to help Space Studios’ ongoing vision for the site and to deliver its associated regeneration benefits. 

“The new phase will provide much-needed expansion space and complete the masterplan, knitting together repurposed existing and new buildings with one unifying architectural language.” 

PRP was also involved in the creation of other Manchester Creative Digital Assets projects, including The Sharp Project and Arbeta. 

Spaces Studios, which opened in 2014, was used to record several well-known TV shows including Peaky Blinders and Alex Garland’s Devs.