Bid for Doncaster town centre film studio and special effects college is set to be made to city region

The scheme which 360 Degree Media hopes to develop is now looking at a site in Doncaster town centre, and say the original proposals to create the studio at the former Doncaster College site appears to have fallen through.

The firm has already started running some classes in Doncaster, at Church View.

Sheffield City Region had originally agreed a grant to develop the plan at High Melton, but now that the possible location has switched, the firm has had to prepare a new business plan and re-apply for the funding.

Alistair Maclean-Clark, managing director of 360 Degree Media, said: “At the moment we’re looking at a site in central Doncaster.

"Once we found out we wouldn’t be getting the High Melton site, we started looking elsewhere and working with the council to find a site that was suitable.

"That is progressing really well.”

He says there is a site they hope to use which would be big enough for the studio, and potentially for expansion. He said it may be more suitable than High Melton in that it was flat.

He said the details of the funding application were still under discussion with the Sheffield City Region as the previously announced £4million grant had been based around the High Melton site. He hopes to submit an application for the town centre site in March.

If everything goes smoothly, Mr Alistair Maclean-Clark hopes to be able to start building in the autumn, with a view to opening the studio with all its sound stages in September 2022.

He said Doncaster Council had been supportive over the process.

At present, 360 Degrees Media runs its LightForge Academy classes, and its Prox and Reverie immersive production businesses at Church View in the town centre.

It is believed the college is selling the High Melton site to a developer, under a competitive tendering process. No comment was available from the college.

Doncaster College had announced in May 2018 that it was selling the site, previously home to some of its degree courses and performing arts courses, to 360 Degrees Media.

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