New studios open in Farnborough

Two 22,000 sq ft studios are now open at Farnborough International in Hampshire, with Sherlock producers Hartswood Films the first production company to occupy the site.  

Farnborough Film Studios is the first of several facilities under development by Stage Fifty in the UK; the company aims to provide 300,000 sq ft of production space within the next 18 months.

As well as the 44,000 sq ft of sound stages, the complex offers 20,000 sq ft of workshops, 10,000 sq ft of office space and 50,000 sq ft unit base and parking. 

Working with manufacturing partner Spantech, Stage Fifty has developed a reusable modular structure, providing the durability of a permanent stage with the flexibility of a movable structure that can be built anywhere in four months, and can be moved and re-used again and again. This type of semi pop-up facility provides a more sustainable, location-flexible space with a reduced build time.  

Stage Fifty CEO, James Enright, said: "We’re collaborating with the team at Farnborough International to bring much needed high-quality studio space to the UK.

“We’re delighted that acclaimed independent TV production company Hartswood Films are the first to use our new facility.

“Stage Fifty is pioneering how film studios are developed, supporting the expanding global content market. Farnborough Film Studios is the first phase of our plan, and we'll be making announcements about other studio locations soon."
 
Director of operations at Hartswood Films, Debbie Vertue, said: “We’re honoured to be the first productions working in the two brand new stages built by Stage Fifty in Farnborough.

"We’re now in production on two new dramas – The Devil’s Hour for Amazon Studios and Inside Man for BBC and Netflix.”