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Plans for the multimillion-dollar development of Dagenham Studios, the largest new film facility In London, are still in place despite us company Pacifica Ventures being concerned about Brexit.

Representatives of Be First (Barking and Dagenham Council’s regeneration company), which oversees the development of the studios, said they were currently exploring various options for the site.

Pacifica had “preferred partner” status for the East London Studio development, but the exclusivity period has now expired. According to Be First managing Director Pat Hayes, ” Pacifica has told us that it is difficult for them to carry out their plans due to uncertainty over the UK’s exit from the European Union.”

“What is not in doubt is the viability and demand for Studio space in the UK, which remains sky high, and that is why I am convinced there will be a lot of interest from those who want to make sure films are made in Dagenham,” he added.

Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London and the British film Commission, has been bullish over suggestions Brexit is affecting domestic investment overall in the UK film and television industry.

“From the perspective of the film Board and the British film Commission, there is no evidence that Brexit is having an impact on domestic investment or people wanting to invest in Studio space,” Wootton said. “The only shame, from my point of view, is that negotiations with Pacifica didn’t work out and that created a bit of a delay.”

“I have no objective evidence that Brexit is slowing investment opportunities in terms of film and television,” Wootton continued.

Other investors are believed to have expressed interest in taking on the Dagenham project.

“The industry is incredibly buoyant,” a Be First spokesperson told the screen. He said the company had been “bombarded with requests” to use Dagenham. “Now that the grace period of Pacifica has expired, we can do (Studio development) with anyone we like. We know there are a lot of other people who will do it .”

“We have contacted a lot of people speculatively, not just companies looking to rent pre-existing properties,” Wootton said of the current demand for Studio spaces across the UK, pointing to the building happening everywhere from Shepperton to Belfast Harbour and LittleWoods in Liverpool and the huge interest in developing and using the UK Studio space.

As the site develops, be First looks to “skill up” local people and liaising closely with local colleges, among them Barking and Dagenham College and Coventry University’s London campus, which is based in the district. Although the area is already well served by London underground stations, Be First has been in discussions with train operating company c2c about reopening disused elevated platforms at Dagenham East station to serve the site’s Studio.

Highlighting the huge demand for Studio space in the UK, both Netflix and Disney have established long-term UK bases in recent months, in Shepperton and Pinewood respectively.

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