The revised application, lodged with Sunderland City Council, sets out the detailed design for Studio One, the opening phase of the 31 hectare Crown Works Growth Zone regeneration on the south bank of the River Wear.

The revised application follows a major rethink of the project after original private backers Cain International and Fulwell Entertainment stepped away from the £450m masterplan.

The current proposals scale back the initial vision to a publicly-backed first phase while Sunderland City Council continues to hunt for private investment for the wider studio complex.

Subject to planning approval, contractors are expected to move onto site later this year following completion of extensive remediation and site preparation works.

Designed by FaulknerBrowns, Studio One will deliver 178,000 sq ft of production space including three sound stages, production offices, backlot space, surface parking and the refurbishment of the historic WH Foster Printworks building.

The first buildings will be constructed on the eastern side of the former industrial site.

The project is backed by more than £38m from the North East Combined Authority, with total public investment across the wider Crown Works Growth Zone exceeding £60m.

Studio One is intended to act as the catalyst for the wider redevelopment of the 31 hectare site into a major employment hub centred on film and high end television production.

Future phases are planned to expand the complex into one of the largest studio campuses in northern England, capable of hosting blockbuster films, television productions, live events and game shows.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “This planning permission is the last hurdle to bringing world class film and TV shows to the North East and I’m excited to see construction start.”