Blackstone and Hudson Pacific Properties Announce Plans for New World-Class Film and TV Studios in the UK
2.8.2021 10:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
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
ŌURA Named Official Wearable of Team Finland23.2.2026 10:00:00 EET | Press release
ŌURA, maker of the world’s leading smart ring, Oura Ring, today announced a long-term partnership as the Official Wearable of Team Finland. As the exclusive provider in the category of continuous health and fitness tracking devices, ŌURA will equip Team Finland Olympic athletes with Oura Ring beginning immediately and continuing through the LA28 Olympic Games and the French Alps 2030 Winter Games. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223559508/en/ Team Finland delivered a strong showing on the world stage at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, capturing a total of six Olympic medals across a range of winter sports. During the Games, many Finnish athletes wore Oura Ring to help manage their performance and recovery. The partnership marks the start of a multi-year collaboration focused on supporting athlete preparation, recovery, and overall wellbeing across two Olympic cycles. “At ŌURA, we believe susta
AHS Tower Fully Sold During Development, Generating More Than USD 700 Million23.2.2026 09:55:00 EET | Press release
AHS Properties has confirmed that 100 percent of inventory at AHS Tower has been sold, generating more than USD 700 million in revenue during the development phase, a clear indicator of strong market demand for its flagship commercial project. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260222540070/en/ AHS Tower Fully Sold During Development on Sheikh Zayed Road (Photo: AETOSWire) Rising 69 storeys above Sheikh Zayed Road, the tower is positioned within minutes of DIFC and the Museum of the Future. Designed by internationally acclaimed architecture firm Killa Design, with interiors by AHS Atelier, it represents a defining step in AHS Properties’ expansion from ultra-luxury residential developments into Grade A commercial real estate. This demand comes amid a year of exceptional business growth in the UAE, with more than 250,000 new companies established in 2025, bringing the total number of operating companies to 1.4 mil
AGCO Power’s Core80 Engine Named Diesel Engine of the Year 202623.2.2026 09:00:00 EET | Press release
Developed and manufactured in Linnavuori, Finland, the engine represents the most advanced technology in AGCO Power’s new Core engine family. The award is among the most respected in the industry and has been recognizing groundbreaking off‑highway powertrain innovations for 20 years. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260222724310/en/ Powertrain International Editor-in-Chief Fabio Butturi (left) presents the Diesel Engine of the Year 2026 award to AGCO Power Vice President Juha Tervala. Next to them, AGCO Power Project Manager for Engineering Juha-Pekka Asikainen applauds. In the background: the CORE80 engine. According to Powertrain International Editor‑in‑Chief Fabio Butturi, the decision was straightforward: “Core80 represents exactly the kind of technical courage and innovation we want to highlight. The award truly belongs to the entire Core engine family, which opens a new era for AGCO Power across tractors
SOLUM Brings Retail in Sync to EuroShop 2026 with Integrated Retail Innovations23.2.2026 09:00:00 EET | Press release
SOLUM (KOSPI: 248070) brings ‘Retail in Sync’ to EuroShop 2026, unveiling new retail display innovations and integrated solutions that connect technology, operations and data to create more agile and scalable retail environments. By connecting pricing, communication and store operations within a unified framework, SOLUM aims to help European retailers improve efficiency, create new value and advance sustainability initiatives. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260222220569/en/ At EuroShop, SOLUM will present practical applications that combine connected display technologies with data and analytics in real store environments. (Image: SOLUM) At EuroShop, SOLUM will present practical applications that combine connected display technologies with data and analytics in real store environments. Vision AI will demonstrate personalized product recommendations linked to electronic shelf labels (ESL), while Bluetooth Low E
Telekom Srbija Group Announces Platinum Sponsorship of EXPO 2027 Belgrade20.2.2026 13:32:00 EET | Press release
Telekom Srbija Group today announced its Platinum Sponsorship of EXPO 2027 Belgrade, marking a major milestone in the company’s continued leadership in digital innovation and infrastructure across the region. As a Platinum Sponsor, Telekom Srbija will play a central role in delivering the digital backbone of EXPO 2027, powering connectivity and enabling the state-of-the-art technological infrastructure that will support one of the largest international events ever hosted in Serbia. EXPO 2027 represents a defining moment for Belgrade, Serbia, and the wider region. For Telekom Srbija, the partnership is both a strategic commitment and a landmark opportunity to demonstrate the full strength of its technological ecosystem on a global stage. Telekom Srbija will also host its own pavilion at EXPO 2027, creating an immersive space to showcase its technologies, innovation platforms and future-facing solutions. Vladimir Lučić, CEO of Telekom Srbija, stated: “EXPO 2027 is a milestone moment for
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