South West Film Studios
Encyclopedia
The South West Film Studios were built in 2002 at St Agnes
in Cornwall
and soon become known locally as "Aggiewood". Costing £5.7m to construct in total, the complex was one of the highest-profile Cornish projects backed by Europe
an Objective One funding, receiving nearly £2 million while the rest of the money came from the private sector. It was the first purpose-built film studio to be built in the UK since 1923 and was the region's first film studio complex. The studios were due to have state-of-the-art production facilities for the film and television industry and was constructed on a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) site which was a former leisure park and model village site in St Agnes. It had been expected that the studios would create 200 permanent jobs when they opened for business and pour millions of pounds into the local economy as it had the full backing of the South West Regional Assembly
and the South West Regional Development Agency.
In October 2004 the studios went into administration when the former managing director, Alex Swann, a 44 year old film producer from Notting Hill
, London
, was charged with 12 offences of forgery and deception totalling more than £1.8 million. In January 2005 officers from the Economic Crime Unit launched an investigation which resulted in the charges against Mr Swann who admitted four charges of forgery and seven of obtaining money by deception at Truro
Crown Court in April 2007. He was also banned from being a company director for 13 years.
In the summer of 2006 the site was sold to St Agnes Properties, based in Tetbury
, Gloucestershire
, and the owners claim there are plans to re-open the studio under another name. However since the building was mothballed it has been badly vandalised and squatters moved in during the summer of 2006. In October 2005 the studios hit the headlines when the Ford Anglia
, used in the Harry Potter Films, went missing from the site. It was eventually found abandoned 10 miles (16.1 km) away on top of Carn Brea
hill. No films were ever made at the studios despite claims that the studio had secured three movies to start imminent production.
Business School
, criticised the decision to give Objective One funding to the film studios in the first place. It has been claimed by some local politicians that the South West Regional Development Agency discovered that private funding was not in place after they had signed the contracts but funds were subsequently made available to Alex Swann contrary to EU funding rules.
St Agnes, Cornwall
St Agnes is a civil parish and a large village on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles north of Redruth and ten miles southwest of Newquay....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and soon become known locally as "Aggiewood". Costing £5.7m to construct in total, the complex was one of the highest-profile Cornish projects backed by Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Objective One funding, receiving nearly £2 million while the rest of the money came from the private sector. It was the first purpose-built film studio to be built in the UK since 1923 and was the region's first film studio complex. The studios were due to have state-of-the-art production facilities for the film and television industry and was constructed on a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) site which was a former leisure park and model village site in St Agnes. It had been expected that the studios would create 200 permanent jobs when they opened for business and pour millions of pounds into the local economy as it had the full backing of the South West Regional Assembly
South West Regional Assembly
The South West Regional Assembly was the regional assembly for the South West region of England, established in 1999.It was wound up in December 2008, and its functions taken on by the Strategic Leaders' Board, the executive arm of the newly established South West Councils. Cllr. Angus Campbell,...
and the South West Regional Development Agency.
In October 2004 the studios went into administration when the former managing director, Alex Swann, a 44 year old film producer from Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, was charged with 12 offences of forgery and deception totalling more than £1.8 million. In January 2005 officers from the Economic Crime Unit launched an investigation which resulted in the charges against Mr Swann who admitted four charges of forgery and seven of obtaining money by deception at Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
Crown Court in April 2007. He was also banned from being a company director for 13 years.
In the summer of 2006 the site was sold to St Agnes Properties, based in Tetbury
Tetbury
Tetbury is a town and civil parish within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the site of an ancient hill fort, on which an Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded, probably by Ine of Wessex, in 681. The population of the parish was 5,250 in the 2001 census.In the Middle Ages,...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, and the owners claim there are plans to re-open the studio under another name. However since the building was mothballed it has been badly vandalised and squatters moved in during the summer of 2006. In October 2005 the studios hit the headlines when the Ford Anglia
Ford Anglia
The 1949 model, code E494A, was a makeover of the previous model with a rather more 1940s style front-end, including the sloped, twin-lobed radiator grille. Again it was a very spartan vehicle and in 1948 was Britain's lowest priced four wheel car....
, used in the Harry Potter Films, went missing from the site. It was eventually found abandoned 10 miles (16.1 km) away on top of Carn Brea
Carn Brea
Carn Brea is a civil parish and hilltop site in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hilltop site is situated approximately one mile southwest of Redruth.-Neolithic settlement:...
hill. No films were ever made at the studios despite claims that the studio had secured three movies to start imminent production.
Controversy over Objective One funding
Professor Peter Gripaios, head of the South West Economy Centre at PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
Business School
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
, criticised the decision to give Objective One funding to the film studios in the first place. It has been claimed by some local politicians that the South West Regional Development Agency discovered that private funding was not in place after they had signed the contracts but funds were subsequently made available to Alex Swann contrary to EU funding rules.