Strategic investment, partnership working and bold ambition are transforming Hartlepool into a major destination for film, television and digital content production.

In recent years, Hartlepool has been quietly building momentum as a new centre for screen production in the North East.

Central to this growth is Northern Studios, currently the only large-scale film and TV studio facility in the region. But the vision for Hartlepool extends far beyond a single studio complex.

Backed by significant public investment – including £15 million through the region’s Investment Zone programme and more than £18 million in additional government support – partners are now advancing plans for a Production Village: a dedicated cluster of studio stages, production support spaces and specialist facilities designed to serve both incoming productions and homegrown creative businesses.

The concept reflects a growing recognition that modern screen production thrives in connected ecosystems rather than standalone sites.

By bringing together studios, post-production, technical services and creative companies in one location, the Production Village aims to create a fully integrated environment where projects can be developed, filmed and delivered without leaving the region.

While high-end TV and film production will anchor the development, the ambition reaches much further. The Production Village is being designed to support the wider creative production economy – including music recording, podcasting, gaming and digital media.

For investors, developers and creative entrepreneurs, this presents an opportunity to engage with a sector experiencing rapid global growth while helping to build a sustainable creative cluster in the North East.

The initiative also reflects a broader regional effort to rebalance where UK content is produced. Through collaboration between local authorities, industry partners and regional organisations,

Hartlepool is positioning itself as both a cornerstone and gateway for production activity across the North East – increasing capacity, attracting new projects and nurturing local talent.

The UKREiiF panel will bring together key voices involved in delivering this vision, including representatives from North East Screen, regeneration specialists TIME + SPACE and podcast growth company PodX. Together with local and regional leaders, they will discuss how collaborative investment and long-term planning are laying the foundations for a thriving production ecosystem.

Attendees will gain an early look at the plans shaping Hartlepool’s Production Village and hear directly from the organisations driving the project forward.

The discussion will explore the scale of the opportunity, the economic impact for the region and the ways in which creative infrastructure can unlock new investment.

For those interested in the future of the UK’s production landscape – and the role that place-based investment can play in powering creative industries – this session offers valuable insight into a story that is only just beginning.