Blackstone and Hudson Pacific Properties Announce Plans for New World-Class Film and TV Studios in the UK
Blackstone (NYSE: BX) and Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP) plan to create a major new centre for film, TV and digital production in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210802005278/en/
Artist Impression No. 1 (Photo: Business Wire)
Funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Hudson Pacific Properties acquired a 91-acre site, 17 miles north of central London, through a joint venture for £120 million. The acquisition, with an expected total investment of over £700 million, will be the partners’ first expansion of their Sunset Studios platform outside of the US.
The proposed development, which is subject to planning permission, would transform the site into one of the largest world-class film and television studio campuses. The project is expected to create over 4,500 permanent jobs for Broxbourne and the surrounding community and contribute more than £300 million annually into the local economy.
This transaction is a continuation of Blackstone’s existing joint venture with Hudson Pacific, a leading Los Angeles-based office and studio owner and operator. Together, Blackstone and Hudson Pacific own a media portfolio that totals 3.5 million square feet, including 35 active sound stages and on-site creative offices, as well as development rights. Sunset Studios has hosted some of the biggest small and big screen hits including When Harry Met Sally and La La Land as well as numerous Academy Award winning films.
James Seppala, Head of Blackstone Real Estate Europe, said: “We are excited to expand our partnership with Hudson Pacific into the UK, and intend to deliver a world-class studio facility that will help ensure that the UK continues to be a premier destination for content production globally. This is a continuation of our thematic investment focus and long-term conviction in media, entertainment and content creation.”
Victor Coleman, Chairman and CEO of Hudson Pacific, said: “We are thrilled to expand our Sunset Studios platform in the UK, a global hub for film and television production. With our expertise developing and operating state-of-the-art media campuses and Blackstone’s resources and existing market presence, we are confident this facility will be in high demand from leading content creators. We look forward to working with Broxbourne Council to ensure the project has a meaningful positive impact on the local community.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This investment is excellent news for the UK’s film and TV industry, pumping hundreds of millions of pounds into the local economy and creating thousands of jobs for the people of Hertfordshire. The creative industries are at the heart of our plans to build back better. This will be a hub for both UK and international productions, showcasing home-grown talent on the global stage.”
Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “This new studio is yet another vote of confidence in the UK’s booming film and TV industry. Through the British Film Commission, we’re supporting the development of stage spaces like this across the UK - boosting the local economy and backing our world-class creatives to make the next Bond blockbuster or bingeworthy box set.”
Cllr. Lewis Cocking, Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, said: “This represents a fantastic opportunity for the people of our borough. Creative Industries are of strategic importance to us and the creation of over 4,500 permanent new jobs and the associated boost to the local economy is just what we need following the pandemic. We look forward to working with Blackstone and Hudson Pacific to help deliver significant positive change in Broxbourne.”
Artist impressions of the proposed development can be downloaded here and here.
About Blackstone
Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $684 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.
About Hudson Pacific Properties
Hudson Pacific is a real estate investment trust with a portfolio of office and studio properties totaling nearly 20 million square feet, including land for development. Focused on premier West Coast epicenters of innovation, media and technology, its anchor tenants include Fortune 500 and leading growth companies such as Netflix, Google, Square, Uber, NFL Enterprises and more. Hudson Pacific is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol HPP and listed as a component of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information visit HudsonPacificProperties.com.
Notes to editors: list of notable productions that have been filmed at Sunset Studios include:
- Project Runway
- Scandal
- X-Men (2000)
- When Harry Met Sally
- Karate Kid
- I Love you, Man
- Zoolander
- La La Land
- Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
- True Blood
- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
- Golden Girls
- Hannah Montana
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (Academy Awards Best Picture winner)
- Lost Horizon
- Six Feet Under
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210802005278/en/
Contact information
Media
For Blackstone
Paul Stephenson
Hanbury
paul.stephenson@hanburystrategy.com
Tel: 07725 610 696
Niamh Fogarty
Hanbury
niamh.fogarty@hanburystrategy.com
Tel: 07946 813 843
For Hudson Pacific Properties
Glesni Thomas
FleishmanHillard
glesni.thomas@fleishman.com
Tel: 07528 383 508
Julia Hipkiss
FleishmanHillard
julia.hipkiss@fleishman.com
Tel: 07827896036
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Most Delivered Light-Entry Jet Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 With Garmin Autothrottles Enters Into Service, Bringing Greater Control and Precision to Pilots14.1.2026 21:30:00 EET | Press release
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 with Garmin Autothrottles recently entered into service. Certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in October 2025, the integration of Garmin’s Autothrottle system in the Citation M2 Gen2 further supports the most delivered light-entry jet’s capabilities by bringing greater control and precision to pilots. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114646844/en/ Most delivered light-entry jet Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 with Garmin Autothrottles enters into service, bringing greater control and precision to pilots (Photo Credit: Textron Aviation). The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company. “We continue to invest in our products to provide customers with the best aviation experience in the world," said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “The M2 Gen2 leads its segment as the most delivered
TwentyTwo Real Estate and Farallon Capital Complete €761 Million Investment in Isemia, a €1.2bn Healthcare Real Estate Company Created With emeis14.1.2026 19:30:00 EET | Press release
TwentyTwo Real Estate, an independent European real estate investment and management firm, announces the completion, alongside Farallon Capital, of a €761 million investment that led to the creation of Isemia (www.isemiabyemeis.com), a leading healthcare real estate company holding a €1.2 billion portfolio of assets operated by emeis. The transaction represents a significant milestone in TwentyTwo Real Estate’s long-term investment strategy focused on healthcare and operational living real estate. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114262830/en/ Fachklinik Schömberg Isemia comprises 68 high-quality assets across France, Germany and Spain, with a balanced mix of nursing homes (48%) and clinics (52%). The portfolio benefits from strong fundamentals and resilient operating performance. All properties will continue to be operated by emeis under long-term lease agreements, ensuring continuity of care for residents
AI’s Water Demand to Surge Nearly 130% by 2050 – New Research Shows How to Build a Water-Secure AI Economy14.1.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
The rapid global expansion of artificial intelligence is set to drive a 129% increase in water demand across the AI value chain by 2050, according to new research by Xylem (NYSE: XYL) and Global Water Intelligence (GWI). Watering the New Economy: Managing the Impacts of the AI Revolution provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of how AI is reshaping global water use. It also highlights practical ways to meet that demand while strengthening water security for communities. Spending on AI is forecast to approach $2 trillion in 2026,1 accelerating infrastructure build-out worldwide. By the middle of the century, this expansion is projected to add 30 trillion liters of water demand, annually, fueled by a surge in power generation (~54% of the increase), semiconductor fabrication (~42%), and data center expansion (~4%). Crucially, the report finds that this additional demand does not have to result in competition between industry and communities. Today, global water systems proces
Primient to Acquire Full Ownership of Primient Covation, LLC14.1.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Primient, a global leader in biomanufacturing, announced today it has agreed to purchase the remaining ownership interest in Primient Covation, LLC (“Primient Covation”), establishing Primient as the sole owner of the company and marking an exciting new chapter in Primient’s growth in the bioeconomy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114344080/en/ This acquisition is the next step of Primient’s strategy to strengthen Primient’s leadership position in biomanufacturing and builds upon recent announcements, including Primient’s partnership with Sustainea and the creation of the iPROOF venture. Primient Covation stands as a leading force in the U.S. biomanufacturing sector, distinguished by its broad range of biomanufacturing and fermentation expertise. The company was founded in 2000 to supply a variety of end markets, including cosmetics and personal care, textiles, fashion, coatings, functional fluids, and oth
ACCELQ Crowned Leader and Customer Favorite in The Forrester Wave™ for Autonomous Testing Platforms14.1.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Forrester has named ACCELQ a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Autonomous Testing Platforms, Q4 2025. This marks the third consecutive Wave in which ACCELQ has been recognized as a Leader. Notably, this evaluation placed strong emphasis on generative AI innovation and real-world customer adoption. ACCELQ received the highest scores for both capabilities and vision and was the only platform to be recognized as a Customer Favorite, earning a "double halo" for exceptional customer endorsement. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113112861/en/ ACCELQ recognized as a Leader and Customer Favorite in The Forrester Wave™️: Autonomous Testing Platforms, Q4 2025, validating its agentic, GenAI-embedded testing vision. According to the Forrester report, ACCELQ received the highest score among all evaluated vendors in the Current Offering category. Analysts praised the platform’s "impressive vision and innovation," specificall
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom