Hertfordshire construction firm BAM has won a £192 million contract to build the "the most sustainable film and TV studio in the world".
BAM has been appointed by Sky, NBC Universal, and Legal & General to construct Sky Studios Elstree; a new home of film and TV production.
The studios, off Rowley Lane in Borehamwood, is set to open in 2022 and will house 13 soundstages, reportedly set to attract £3 billion worth of production spend in the first five years of operation.
BAM, which is headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, says it has been selected to create Sky Studios Elstree due to its expertise in constructing large scale projects.
The construction form says it will optimise the design for sustainability, including sourcing materials that are local and low carbon.
Once operational, Sky Studios Elstree will not use gas or fossil fuels to power day-to-day running of the site – instead it will source renewable energy with the capability to generate up to 20 per cent of energy on-site through solar energy.
BAM Energy, part of BAM Construct UK, is assisting Sky to maximise the solar energy that is generated and used by the new studios.
The design for the new studios is being delivered by UMC Architects, Fairhurst and Hoare Lea, with Potter Raper Partnership undertaking the quantity surveying and project management of the scheme.
L-R: Nigel Wilson (CEO, Legal & General), Helen Parker (EVP of Universal Pictures Content Group, NBCUniversal), Caroline Cooper (CFO, Sky Studios) and Cllr. Morris Bright MBE (Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council) on the building site of Sky Studios Elstre
James Wimpenny, chief executive of BAM Construct UK, said: "We are proud to be an integral partner to achieving such an ambitious and sustainable scheme that will not only support the growth of the creative economy in the UK, but lead the way for others.
"This world class scheme reflects our own goals to be net zero carbon by 2030, to assist our clients in delivering net zero development and to enhance the lives of local communities, creating added social value."
Through the construction phase, BAM says it will work with the local Job Centre Plus to offer a variety of construction related roles.
It will also offer apprenticeships, training and work placements for those who want to enter the construction industry, working alongside its supply chain.
Overall, it is expected Sky Studios Elstree will lead to the creation of more than 2,000 jobs in the surrounding area, including 900 during the construction phase and 1,500 once the studio is operational.
The full-time roles will include a significant number of production jobs alongside roles supporting the running of the studio’s operations.
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