Filming in Newcastle upon Tyne: permits and fees
Film Newcastle supports productions on public land and streets, with unique Town Moor governance requiring Freemen of Newcastle consent for certain areas.
Who issues permits
Newcastle City Council’s Film Newcastle service coordinates with highways, parks, and events teams. North East Screen, the regional screen agency, can assist with multi-authority productions across the wider Tyne and Wear area.
Process
Contact Film Newcastle through the council website to begin the permit process. The team gathers location, dates, crew size, and equipment details, then routes the application to the appropriate council departments. Allow at least 10 working days for straightforward permits; road closures need more lead time and must follow highways notification procedures.
Fees
Admin fees apply for filming permits, varying by production type. Commercial shoots pay more than student or charitable productions. Road closure and traffic management costs are additional. Council building hire is negotiated separately.
What’s covered
Public streets and highways, council parks including the unique Town Moor, civic buildings such as Newcastle Civic Centre, the Tyne Bridge public approaches, the Quayside public realm, and public squares. The Ouseburn area and Grainger Town provide distinctive period locations.
Typical restrictions
Town Moor has unique governance — the Freemen of Newcastle have historic rights over certain areas which require their own consent in addition to council permission. Plan for both consents if Town Moor is in scope. Night filming on the Quayside has noise restrictions. Newcastle Castle is managed separately.
Contact
Apply on the Newcastle City Council website → newcastle.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Newcastle City Council issues filming permits for its area. Applications go through the council's filming / events team — not the local parks department or police, although those may also be consulted.
- How long is the lead time?
- Allow at least 10 working days. Complex applications involving road closures, drone use, or multiple locations need more — plan 2–4 weeks ahead where possible.
- What's the typical cost?
- Newcastle City Council quotes filming fees case-by-case based on scale, duration, and public-realm impact. Small documentary crews are often charged an admin fee only; feature-film shoots involving road closures cost meaningfully more.
- What does this permit cover?
- The permit typically covers streets, parks, civic buildings. Private property and other national-body land (e.g. Crown Estate, National Trust, Royal Parks) may need separate consent.
- How do I apply?
- Apply via Newcastle City Council's filming page at https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/film-newcastle. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.