Create Yorkshire new hub at Church Fenton

A new creative hub, anchored by a listed company, could be developed on land at a film studio in Yorkshire which has been home to high-profile series including ITV’s Victoria.

Makin Enterprises is seeking feedback on a plan to build a creative hub, to be known as Create Yorkshire, on land at Church Fenton Studios. Church Fenton Studios is built on a former RAF base. Owned by Makin Enterprises, the site comprises three aircraft hangars, each of which covers more than 30,000 sq ft. The studios are currently being used for national television projects, and the last series of Victoria had more than 170 cast and crew members employed to work on the series from production staff to actors. The creative hub is set to provide space for a wide array of businesses from within the creative industries onto one, built-for-purpose site. The aim of the project is to utilise the land at Church Fenton to deliver economic diversity and growth, while creating a wide range of new jobs locally.

York-headquartered Paragon Creative intends to move all existing operations to the new site, and become a major anchor partner of Create Yorkshire. The company’s move to the site will bring 160 existing, high-value, skilled jobs across the media, creative and production businesses. Paragon designs and builds attractions for brands such as toy store chain Hamleys and the Titanic Belfast. Chris Makin, chief executive of Makin Enterprises, said: “It is great news that Paragon are joining the Create Yorkshire project at Church Fenton. Their involvement is another step towards delivering a real creative hub in the North of England, which promises jobs and growth for the whole region. As I have always maintained, it is crucial that development here can only go ahead after consulting with local people, to ensure Create Yorkshire is a benefit for as many people in the community as possible.”

Mark Pyrah, development director and founder at Paragon said: “We are excited to become part of the Create Yorkshire project and benefitting from the talent available in Selby and the surrounding area. Paragon Creative is one of the world’s leading design development and build companies, with over 25 years of practical and creative experience.”