UK locations in jeopardy

Legal changes could put the use of residential properties for film and TV productions in peril.

In two recent cases private houses were told they needed planning permission for location filming - which was subsequently turned down.

BECTU has joined the campaign with the Guild of Location Managers to either change the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or improve the guidelines used by local planning officers.

The campaign believes that unless there are legal changes there could be lasting effects on the industry.

Following BECTU's approach to government, the UK Film Council has set up a meeting with all regional screen agencies and location managers to discuss the issue.

Location managers are key to helping the situation, and are being asked by the campaign to check when booking a site that it has not been repeatedly used for shoots, and therefore upsetting local residents.