The planned ‘Dublin Fields’ movie studios for a site in south Dublin “will be a world-class studio” and occupy the top tier of movie studios globally alongside Pinewood in London and Trilith in the US.
That is according to a planning report lodged with the ambitious Grange Castle Media Park with South Dublin Co Council will create up to 2,000 jobs on and off site when operational.
Applicants, Lens Media Ltd is seeking a 10-year planning permission for the 56 acre site owing to the scale of the proposed development which includes 20 individual structures amounting to over 74,000 sq. m of gross floor space.
The development includes six sound stage buildings that comprise 11 internal sound stages along with ancillary offices at Grange Castle Business Park, Co Dublin.
The planning report by planning consultants, Tom Phillips+ Associates states that Dublin Fields “will have all the elements that will lure top productions from around the world”.
Tom Phillips + Associates state: “We believe this will be the largest stage in the European Union, and a unifying step in making Ireland a new hub for the movie and TV industry.”
The report states that “the proposed development would provide an unparalleled opportunity to expand the capacity of film and TV production in Ireland in line with national interests in the sector. While there are several film studios in Ireland, none are of the proposed scale”.
The Television Studios are to offer 4,000, 6,000 and 10,000 sq studios each with the capability of housing live shows with audiences up to 600 people.
The report states that the emergence and growth of the likes of Netflix and Amazon Primse has led to a surge in the demand for high quality content and that Ireland “is uniquely positioned to cater for and benefit from”.
The report states that a similar sized studio exists in Shepperton, London has facilitated the production of over 1,000 films, winning 126 BAFTAs and 81 Oscars.
Tom Phillips+ Associates state that the opportunity for the development of such a facility in Ireland “has arisen in recent years due to various factors including government incentives and the challenges that have been presented to existing studios in the UK arising from Brexit”.
Senior Planner with Tom Phillips+Associates, Bernard Dwyer states that the development will “contribute significantly to the Government’s ambitions for the screen industry nationally and will provide significant employment and training opportunities in the arts for the local and wider area”.
Lens Media is backed by Irish producer Alan Moloney, known for Siege of Jadotville and Brooklyn, Oscar-nominated American Producer Gary Levinsohn of Saving Private Ryan.
The other partners in the venture include David Cooper M.D who is a New York based physician, accomplished film-maker, Matt Cooper and Irish born and LA based, Christopher Carlin.