History was made last Wednesday as the ground-breaking ceremony for the film studio in Barking and Dagenham signalled the beginning of building works for the project.



In 2016, the Council worked with the GLA to develop a business case, commissioned by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. London’s Mayor worked with Film London, the London Local Enterprise Panel and Barking and Dagenham Council to explore the possibility of developing a 17-acre site in Dagenham East.



A year later, the mayor gave the go ahead and the Council was able to make the offer, looking for like-minded partners who shared its vision and dreams to help deliver London’s largest film studios and media centre in Dagenham.



Leader of the Council, Councillor Darren Rodwell, said: “When in 2021, we announced that LA-based Hackman Capital Partners (HCP), owners of the studio where The Sopranos and Sex and the City were filmed as our preferred partners, people felt it was a pipe dream. 



“This east end epic did not happen overnight, we have worked with our partners, to make this dream a reality. This blockbuster deal will generate hundreds of opportunities for local residents, including our young people, and bolster our borough’s reputation as London’s creative hotspot.



“On this site in London east alone, we have been able to deliver £2 billion pound worth of investment - the only site in London to have world leading media, data and film on one site.”



The studios are due to be completed in December 2023.



Residents and local businesses can find out more information and details of opportunities available at filmbarkinganddagenham.com/.