On Monday I was delighted to be joined by The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for a visit to Barking Power Station, one of several filming locations in the borough which over recent years have made Barking and Dagenham a key destination for film production companies.
I was with Sadiq to launch the findings of a feasibility study funded by the GLA and the council to look into the possibility of film studios at Dagenham East. The study has given us the green light to go ahead and build what will be the first film studios in London since Pinewood opened in 1936.
This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for our borough – we will become a global hub for making blockbuster movies. The study shows that Dagenham East will be an ideal location for Hollywood-style studios alongside world-class TV studio space.
London has become a major centre for film production, and the Mayor of London is keen to expand opportunities for the film industry; I am determined that our borough will reap big benefits from this.
Not only will it put Dagenham East on the map, but it will be a massive boost for our community generating around 800 full time jobs and boosting the local economy by £35million.
This week we’re another step closer to this project becoming a reality and it is yet more proof of the bright future our borough has, so long as we stay determined to seize each and every opportunity to deliver the very best for everyone who lives in Barking and Dagenham.
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