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Referral of the proposed subsidy to Sunderland City Council by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority

The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has accepted a request for a report providing advice to the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA) concerning its proposed subsidy to Sunderland City Council.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published:
7 October 2026
Case type:
SAU referral
Case state:
Open
Market sector:
Recreation and leisure
Opened:
7 October 2026

Administrative timetable

Date Action
17 November 2026 SAU’s report to be published
20 October 2026 Deadline for receipt of any third-party submissions
7 October 2026 Beginning of reporting period

Request from NEMSA

7 October 2026: The SAU has accepted a request for a report from NEMSA concerning the proposed subsidy to Sunderland City Council. This request relates to a Subsidy of Particular Interest.

The SAU will prepare a report, which will provide an evaluation of NEMSA’s assessment of whether the subsidy complies with the subsidy control requirements (Assessment of Compliance). The SAU will complete its report within 30 working days.

Information about the subsidy provided by NEMSA

The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA) proposes to award a subsidy of up to £38.5 million to Sunderland City Council in connection with the Crown Works Studios project in Sunderland. The proposed subsidy comprises a capital grant of up to £25 million, a revenue grant of up to £2.5 million, and an interest-free loan (or repayable grant) of up to £11 million, which is intended to be repaid through business rates income generated within the Crown Works Growth Zone.

The subsidy is intended to support the delivery of a film and television production facility on a brownfield site in the Pallion and Ford ward of Sunderland. The project comprises the construction of a new studio building providing approximately 45,000 square feet of flexible studio space, the refurbishment of the existing Doxford Printworks building to provide approximately 80,000 square feet of workshop and office accommodation, and associated site infrastructure.

The proposed revenue grant would provide support for operating costs during the first 5 years of operation of the facility. Construction is expected to commence in late 2026 or early 2027, with the facility anticipated to become operational in 2028.

Information for third parties

If you wish to comment on matters relevant to the SAU’s evaluation of the Assessment of Compliance concerning the proposed subsidy to Sunderland City Council by NEMSA please send your comments on the date stipulated in the timetable above. For guidance on representations relevant to the Assessment of Compliance, see the section on reporting period and transparency in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.

Please send your submissions to us at sau-nemsacrownworks2026@cma.gov.uk, copying the public authority: legalservices@northeast-ca.gov.uk.

Please also provide a contact address and explain in what capacity you are making the submission (for example, as an individual or a representative of a business or organisation).

Notes to third parties wishing to make a submission

The SAU will only take your submission into account if it can be shared with NEMSA. The SAU will send a copy of your submission to NEMSA together with its report. This is to allow the public authority to take account of the submission in its decision as to whether to grant or modify the subsidy or its assessment. We therefore ask that you provide express consent for your full and unredacted submission to be shared. We also encourage you to share your submission directly with the NEMSA using the email address provided above.

The SAU may use the information you provide in its published report. Therefore, you should indicate in your submission whether any specified parts of it are commercially confidential. If the SAU wishes to refer in its published report to material identified as confidential, it will contact you in advance.

For further details on confidentiality of third party submissions, see identifying confidential information in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.

Contacts

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