Digital Filmmaking studio gets green light at Carriage Works

A business case, providing £400,000 for refurbishing Unit 9 of the Carriage Works, has been approved by central government and a 10-year lease with Create Studios was approved at the Council’s Cabinet meeting this week.

The funding will support the delivery of a £1m film studio and teaching space.

The arrival of Create Studios in Unit 9 means another unit in Brunel’s historic works will be filled along with the Royal Agricultural University’s Cultural Heritage Institute and the University of Bath’s iCAST centre.

The addition of a digital media facility in the Carriage Works will allow the required space for modern digital production, equipment, and the development of digital skills.

The facility will also enable 16,000 direct participant engagements per year, 60,000 live audiences for civic exhibitions and an online audience of 5m people.

To support this growth, nine full-time roles will be created and will support 50 additional artists, creatives, and specialists, while also increasing income that can be reinvested for community benefit.

Create Studios is a social enterprise model that generates income and offers employment opportunities by delivering media production for partners as diverse as the NHS and English Heritage.

The facility will enable opportunities for young people from all over Swindon through a range of community projects, training, and educational programmes.

The Carriage Works sits within the town’s Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) and is located on London Street opposite the Mechanics’ Institute. It has been partly restored as a business incubation centre and Cultural Heritage Institute for the Royal Agricultural University, but much of it has lain empty as it was deemed unattractive to be brought forward through private sector investment.

The HAZ is currently receiving funding and support from Historic England who are working with the Council and other partners on a five year plan to revitalise the area.

Richard Newland, chairman of the Swindon Towns Fund Board, said: “I’m really pleased that our strong business case has been approved by the government and that we can continue to regenerate the Carriage Works.

“The creative sector is growing at a rapid rate and this new facility will help us to retain and attract top talent to Swindon as well as give Create Studios the space to grow. It will provide opportunities for people looking to develop their careers in the digital industry and provide training opportunities for young people.

“There is still more work to be done at this historic site but it’s a very exciting time to be involved.”

CEO of Create Studios, Shahina Johnson MBE reflected, “The Create team have had a long-standing commitment to building digital skills and employment opportunities for young people in Swindon, whilst also growing civic pride through large-scale cultural projects.

“To base this work and our film and animation production activity in a new accessible home in the historic Carriage Works development very much builds on that heritage of innovation with community at the heart.

“We want Swindon to benefit from the incredible growth of the digital creative industries, and having a first bespoke home to grow talent is a very exciting opportunity as we approach our 40th anniversary.”