Film studio challenges decision to sell Shackleton base

A film studio that expressed an interest in buying the former Shackleton British military base in Derry is challenging the First and Deputy First Ministers’ decision to sell it to the Newry headquartered MJM Group for £1 million.

The North’s political leaders confirmed the sale of the 621.5 acre site to the specialist joinery and fit out firm MJM Group in February.

Brian McConville, the founder and group chairman of MJM said although its initial plan was to create 100 jobs on the site it is his “vision” that there will be at least 1,000 jobs created once the Ballykelly site is fully developed.

The North’s deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness said in February that a key aspect of MJM’s proposal for the former army base was “its commitment to providing significant community benefits, including a refurbished community building and outdoor recreation facilities”.

But in a statement today Shackleton Studios, which had leased some of the Shackleton base and was developing production and studio space on the site, and had also tabled a bid for the base said it is concerned that “the tenders submitted were not scrutinised and managed in an open way”.

Shackleton Studios asserts that its plan for the site “would have created between 1,870 and 2,670 jobs in and around Derry-Londonderry”.

The company added: “Job creation was a key criteria for the tender and therefore a financial bond was proposed as part of the submission to guarantee commitment to the delivery of these jobs.

“It should also be noted that the film industry is subject to a fast growth rate, as we have seen in Belfast, and touches all sectors of society – education, actors, hairdressers, joiners, painters, make-up artists, restaurants, hotels and many other areas.

“Figures for job creation and economic activity resulting from Shackleton Studios would have therefore been likely to increase significantly year-by-year.”

The film studio said it has written to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister asking to be “provided reasons justifying the decision that Shackleton Studios proposal should be rejected on the grounds that the tender hadn’t reached the minimum score for the Community Benefit or Environmental Benefit criteria”.

Shackleton Studios said it is “legally entitled” to be told why its tender was not successful.