Wicklow Film Studio: Concerns Over Future Project
Greystones Media Campus: Local Concerns Mount Over Stalled Project and Lack of Transparency
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Greystones, co. Wicklow – A significant media campus project in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, which was slated too begin operating in 2024, is facing mounting criticism from local businesses and community representatives due to a perceived lack of progress and transparency. the East Wicklow Business Network has voiced strong concerns over the prolonged silence surrounding the Greystones media Campus, a project that promised significant economic growth and community employment.
Void of Facts Fuels Local Frustration
Louise Gaskin, Chair of the East Wicklow Business Network, highlighted the growing unease among her members. “There’s a ‘void’ of information about the project,” she stated, expressing frustration over the lack of updates. “Lying idle, it’s becoming an ugly site, overgrown, just lying there doing nothing.”
The consortium behind the project, Hackman Capital Partners, secured a 999-year lease on IDA land for the Greystones Media Campus at a nominal annual rent of just under €600. However, the promised commencement of operations in 2024 has not materialized, leaving local stakeholders questioning the project’s viability.
“First of all we were being told it was about the actors strike going on.Then we were told it’s commercially sensitive. Then we’re getting blanks,” Ms. Gaskin explained. ”No one’s coming back with information. So who has the information? Someone has to know something.”
Ms. Gaskin suggested that if doubts about the project’s feasibility persist, the lease agreement should be revoked, and the land should be repurposed for choice business uses that could benefit the local economy.
Ireland’s Growing Demand for Studio Space
The concerns in Greystones come at a time when Ireland’s film and television industry is experiencing significant growth, yet is hampered by a critical shortage of studio facilities. Larry Bass, Founder and CEO of ShinAwil productions, emphasized this point, noting that his company had to construct a new studio to accommodate the filming of “Dancing With the Stars” following the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Ireland has a fantastic crew base,” Mr. Bass commented, underscoring the high demand for skilled Irish personnel in the global industry. He noted that the sector has expanded dramatically, from a few thousand workers two decades ago to over thirty thousand highly skilled professionals today.
Despite global economic uncertainties and potential trade barriers, the demand for Irish talent remains strong, with major international players like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, the BBC, and American networks continuing to commission new productions. However,the lack of adequate studio infrastructure is a significant impediment to attracting these productions to Ireland.
“All we need is the raw material, the place, to build. And you know, this has never been a truer statement. If you build it, watch them come,” mr. Bass asserted, highlighting the potential economic windfall that readily available studio space could unlock.
Government Response and Future Outlook
The Department of Finance acknowledged that investment in the Greystones Media Campus is likely to be phased. However, they were unable to provide details on the amount of the €24 million committed to the project that has been spent to date.
Furthermore, the department stated that the current Minister has not received any project updates from the Irish Strategic Investment Fund or Hackman Capital Partners.
A spokesperson for Hackman Capital Partners indicated that a statement regarding the project would be released in the coming months, offering a glimmer of hope for clarity amidst the current uncertainty. The situation remains a focal point for the local business community, eager for tangible progress and transparency on a project that holds significant promise for the region.