Issue - meetings

Appendix 1 to the report is exempt from publication as it contains commercially confidential information (exempt under paragraph 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended)).

Further to Minute 60 (15 October 2019), the Cabinet Members for Finance, Performance and Core Services and Regeneration and Social Housing introduced a report on the latest issues relating to the Council’s ambitions for major film/TV studios and associated media related activity at the LEUK (former Sanofi) site, Rainham Road South, Dagenham.

It was noted that after securing planning approval for the development, Be First had gone to the market and received strong interest from several private sector organisations with extensive experience of building and running studios.  An analysis of the proposals indicated that the optimum way for the Council to facilitate the delivery of the studios would be through a long leasehold sale of the land.  Interest had also been shown by the preferred bidder in renting the Council’s recently acquired site at Welbeck Wharf in River Road, Barking, for additional studio space.

The Cabinet Members also advised on the work being undertaken to maximise the local impact of the studios in terms of employment, training and engagement.  The project would have a transformational impact on the local economy and the services of Screenskills, an industry-led skills body for the screen industry, had been engaged to help optimise that potential.  It was also pointed out that as well as opportunities within the film/TV industry itself, the project would create a wide range of job opportunities in areas such as construction (building stage sets, electrical, carpentry etc.), creative industries and hair and beauty to name just a few.  Furthermore, the LEUK site would be home to one of Europe’s largest data centres and the UCL PEARL Institution.  To that end, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing advised on the important role of the local training and education sector, including B&D College, the Adult College, CU London (Dagenham) and schools, in helping to raise the aspirations and skills of the local community to ensure that Barking and Dagenham residents were able to take advantage of the wide-ranging opportunities on offer.

Cabinet Members were unanimous in their support for the project and the Leader commented that since the Council first developed its vision for the regeneration of the site just over four years ago, over £2 billion of investment had been secured in the area.  The Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Aspiration also spoke on the engagement with local businesses to ensure that they were able to benefit from the project and the Skills Pathway initiative aimed at upskilling young people of the Borough.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree that a long leasehold sale of land represents the best route to deliver Film studios in Dagenham;

(ii)  Agree to a 250 year leasehold sale of the land shown edged red in the plan at Appendix 2 to the report and delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing and the Director of Law and Governance, to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35