21st April 2016
Lights, Camera, Action! O’Hare & McGovern Awarded £20m Harbour Film Studios
We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a £20m project based at Giant’s Park, Belfast. The new film studios will include over 120,000sq ft. of studios, workshops, dressing rooms and production offices to accommodate art departments. Developed by Belfast Harbour, the complex will provide two state of the art sound-proofed studios as part as an overall site that will also cater for outdoor filming.
This project will support 200 construction jobs and is set to be completed late this year.
Eamon O’Hare, Director at OHMG:
“O’Hare & McGovern is delighted to be part of such as major scheme, especially at a time when the profile of the film and drama industry in Northern Ireland is at an all-time high. This is one of the most exciting developments ever undertaken by the company. It’s another showpiece project which, when completed will be the landmark building on Belfast Lough’s foreshore.”
The success of Northern Ireland film productions such as HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ has meant that demand for studio space is now outstripping supply. Designed in conjunction with Northern Ireland Screen and prospective customers it is hoped that it will be occupied by global film production companies.
Belfast Harbour Chief Executive, Roy Adair:
“Belfast Harbour has worked extremely hard to bring this project from plans to reality. Northern Ireland’s production industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years with major shows such as ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Fall’, and films such as ‘High Rise’, not only being produced in Northern Ireland, but within the Harbour Estate. In the past two years the industry has generated an estimated £137m of spend in the local economy. To keep pace with demand we identified the opportunity to develop new film studios. Belfast Harbour Studios will ensure that the local industry continues to attract new projects and develop significant job opportunities.”
Given the strong demand for such high quality space the scheme has also been future-proofed to accommodate additional studio and workshop space on an adjoining two-acre site.
Richard Williams, CEO, Northern Ireland Screen, added:
“It is well known within the global screen industry that the demand for studio space currently outstrips supply in the UK. We are delighted that the proposed new sound stages on the North Foreshore are going ahead and with our recent successful track record in attracting large-scale film and television production to Northern Ireland, we remain convinced that more screen production will be forthcoming once the infrastructure becomes available.”
