Filming in Burgess Park

7 March 2022

Southwark Council, like many London boroughs, attracts a large number of filming requests from production companies, to film in our borough. These are managed by Film Fixer, on the council’s behalf. The income from filming is significant, and is a crucial source of funding for council services, following more than a decade of funding cuts. The council has lost almost two thirds of its funding from Government since 2010.

Others in the community also benefit from the income generated with, for example, contributions made to Tenant and Residents Associations when filming on our estates. Production companies are also encouraged to create other local benefits in the borough, such as offering work experience to local young people. A huge amount of filming takes place in our borough and rarely attracts much attention.

The filming taking place in Burgess Park is on a much larger scale than anything we have done in recent years in Southwark, and was planned prior to the war in Ukraine. It is generating significant funding for the park, local groups, and council services, as well as offering local people experience in television and film production. Local groups affected by the filming, such as the Friends of Burgess Park, the BMX track, and ParkRun have been kept updated about the filming. Signs and marshalls are located around the site to answer questions and ensure park users are aware of what is going on.

We hope that residents will understand the benefits of attracting filming opportunities such as these to the borough, not least in helping to make up some of the funding shortfall caused by more than a decade of funding cuts. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the current filming in Burgess Park, and are working with Film Fixer to ensure the set is removed as soon as possible after the filming this week. Our parks team and ecology officer have been closely liaising with the production company to ensure that wildlife is not impacted and they will be keeping this under review. They will also make sure that the site is returned to us in the same good condition it was found in.

Page last updated: 07 March 2022