Filming in Plymouth: permits and fees
Plymouth City Council covers the Barbican, the Hoe, and the naval city's waterfront, with the Royal Citadel and Naval Base each requiring separate MOD permissions.
Who issues permits
Plymouth City Council’s filming team handles public street and council land permits. The Royal Citadel (Historic England monument) and Plymouth Naval Base (Ministry of Defence) require entirely separate access regimes.
Process
Apply to Plymouth’s filming service with standard notice periods. The Barbican’s cobbled streets and the Hoe are popular locations — particularly in summer.
Fees
Standard south-west council rates. Plymouth maintains accessible fee structures to attract production.
What’s covered
Streets including the Barbican district, Plymouth Hoe public promenade areas, council parks, civic buildings. Drake’s Island access requires Plymouth Port Authority consent.
Typical restrictions
The Royal Citadel is a Ministry of Defence asset with its own access regime. Plymouth’s naval base areas are off-limits without MOD security clearance. The Barbican fishing harbour involves the harbour authority separately. Summer season at the Hoe means very limited crew-only access.
Contact
- Email: filming@plymouth.gov.uk
- Web: plymouth.gov.uk/filming
Apply on the Plymouth City Council website → plymouth.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Plymouth 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 5 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?
- Plymouth 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, outdoor, 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 Plymouth City Council's filming page at https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/filming. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.