Camden Film Quarter secures planning approval, advancing one of the UK’s most investable projects

Plans for the £1bn Camden Film Quarter in north London have received planning approval, marking a major milestone for one of the UK’s most ambitious creative industry developments and reinforcing London’s position as a global centre for film and television production.

The mixed-use scheme in Kentish Town, backed by Yoo Capital and operated by Oxygen Studios, was highlighted by Real FDI in October 2025 as one of the country’s top investable projects, citing its unique combination of production infrastructure, education, housing and urban regeneration. The development aims to create a new creative district centred on film and television, while addressing growing demand for studio space in central London.

The project will feature 11 sound stages using an innovative stacked design that allows multiple studios to be located vertically, helping maximise a constrained urban site. In addition to production and post-production facilities, the development will include around 500 homes, approximately half of which will be affordable, as well as new premises for the National Film and Television School and the London Screen Academy.

Backers of the project say the scheme will directly create around 4,000 jobs and generate broader economic benefits through the creative industries supply chain.

The approval comes at a time when the UK is strengthening its position as an alternative to Hollywood for international productions. Major films including Wicked, Barbie and Avengers: Doomsday have all been filmed in Britain, supported by a combination of skilled crews, tax incentives and expanding studio capacity.

In a recent interview with The Times, Yoo Capital managing partner Lloyd Lee said the decision to develop studio facilities in London was driven by the capital’s deep talent pool and established production ecosystem.

“Location decision-makers genuinely love London,” Lee said, noting that lower-cost alternatives can ultimately prove less efficient when production companies need to relocate hundreds of people and specialised equipment.

While the development faced objections from local groups concerned about building heights and construction impacts, Camden Council concluded that the benefits outweighed the concerns. The project will also deliver improvements to Kentish Town station and create new public spaces and pedestrian and cycling routes.

James Slater, Camden Council’s cabinet member for planning and sustainability, said the approval would transform an underused part of the borough into a more connected and vibrant neighbourhood.

The scheme’s progress underlines the growing appeal of creative industry infrastructure as an investment theme. As highlighted in Real FDI’s feature on the Camden Film Quarter, the project represents more than a studio complex. It combines production facilities, education, residential development and public realm improvements to create a long-term ecosystem capable of supporting one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors.

With planning approval secured, the Camden Film Quarter moves closer to becoming one of Europe’s most distinctive urban film production hubs and a flagship example of how creative industries can drive investment, regeneration and economic growth.