Dreamland Studios? Is it all over for FV??

[Captain Sensible]

There has been a lot of press coverage given to an application to build Dreamland studios between Tamaragua and the Dunes: https://noticiasfuerteventura.com/fuerte...en-la-isla

[gattaca66]

Yes, there has been a lot of coverage. It may be hugely speculative, easy to ‘knock’ - and many will - but it’s good to see a bit of broader thinking, some ambition beyond tourism. Interesting, anyway!

[Tardis]

It's not a viable business proposition.  If it goes ahead, it will end up being another vanity project, just like the technology park.

A couple of my friends have worked in the movie industry for many years.  When I mentioned it to them, they just laughed.

[Cotillo_Tom]

I can't work out if this is an independent business proposal, e.g. the private sector, or if it is driven by La Olivia Council?

If the former, they will have already assessed the viability. If the latter, perhaps someone has been at the wacky backy?

As a public sector scheme, it has no chance as very large screen-stages all over the world  and similar facilities are sitting empty for very long periods, desperate for someone to hire them for filming or post production facilities.

Tom.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

The Chamber of Commerce supports the DREAMLAND project: "Fuerteventura has an opportunity that cannot and should not be missed"

Island characteristics are no longer an obstacle for the talent of the new generations to compete on an equal footing

After the presentation of the promoters of the Dreamland project to the plenary of the Chamber of Commerce of Fuerteventura, from the presidency of this body we wanted to make the following reflection on the present and future of the islandof Fuerteventura.



"In Fuerteventura, like the rest of the world, we are living one of the most transcendental moments in our recent history. In these times of change, produced by several economic, social and health crises, trade and economic relations begin to recover after moments of great uncertainty."

They consider from this body that "the world has changed drastically in recent years, they are subtle changes, which will make more sense when these turbulent times pass, but they will be structural changes that will mark the path of what is coming".

For the Chamber of Commerce, Fuerteventura is no stranger to these changes. "Personal relationships, business models, the concerns of our young people, our lives have been digitized. Audiovisual entertainment has converged with a generation eager for content, eager for digital consumption. In this way and to the same extent we have a generation, digital native, that has a golden opportunity to make a qualitative leap in their quality of life."

"The digital industry has also worked the miracle of industrial decentralization. Talent is key. The generation of content for this new business model is not positioned in the center of the board, since the fiber optic lines have blurred the center of the board. Any point on the planet is the center, as long as there is an industrial structure that favors creative talent," they add.

In this sense, they explain that the Canary Islands, thanks to the Economic and Fiscal Regime recognized in our Statute of Autonomy, has for the first time a weapon to be able to develop an industry in favorable conditions for our people. "The advantages that the REF gives us in terms of taxation and protection of the audiovisual industry allows us to be a world leader in attracting investment."

"We have never been able to compete, because of insularity, with the large manufacturing markets, but now we are in a position by the two previous factors to be a world power. If we propose it, we can do it, "they move.

In this sense, the Chamber of Commerce of Fuerteventura wants to show its support for any initiative that generates a strong industry in the audiovisual sector since they consider that these projects will open a door to the hope of economic diversification, but a diversification that will also contribute to establish a quality tourism model.

Therefore, from the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce, they support without fissures the proposal of the DREAMLAND Audiovisual Center, "a real alternative for our young people and an even more real way to diversify the island's economy."

They have defended that "the audiovisual industry, and with it the cinema, series, video games or virtual reality is, at the moment the most profitable industry in the world and Fuerteventura has an opportunity that can not and should not be missed, our children would not forgive this failure".
That is why the Chamber of Commerce, in its objective of supporting the economic growth of our island and improving social conditions, has not been able to ignore the "tacit and specific support for projects of this nature".

[Tardis]

In other articles published today, they refer to a theme park.

A Dreamland theme park already exists in the UK:

https://www.dreamland.co.uk/

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

The Business Confederation has made public in a statement its support for the DREAMLAND project.

The Confederation of Businessmen of Fuerteventura (CONFUER) has shown in a statement its support for the project of the DREAMLAND Audiovisual Center.



In the words of the confederation: "Business employers have the duty to ensure the private productive fabric as an engine of social and economic growth. Part of our mission involves supporting bold projects that help improve society and other entrepreneurs."

"On an island like Fuerteventura the bet is even more necessary. We live in island realities with little industrial implantation, glued to the reality of the monoculture of tourism, subjected to ups and downs that, Events such as the COVID pandemic or the Ukrainian War, remind us of the fragility of our future".

"We have gone through many hardships in Fuerteventura and at the moment we are an advanced society, but we have to go one step further. Bets such as the Technology Park, in the medium long term, are necessary for the island, but there are other alternatives that are already part of our lives and generate wealth and employment on the island."

"In these times that run the positions against economic growth continue to arrive from people who, outside our island, try to torpedo growth through fake news, altering the real perception of what the people of Fuerteventura demand."

"It is good that small groups of troublemakers who pretend to live in the past, when the island left a trail of misery and dependence on the outside, continue to be heeded."

"We also defend the value of Fuerteventura against other oligarchies that want our children to depend on public administrations or that they end up irremediably landing in the service sector, it is time that we leave that world behind thanks to the new ways and opportunities offered by projects such as DREAMLAND STUDIOS".

"We are talking about the audiovisual industry. The world has changed and the interconnection of fiber optic networks frees us from the burden of insularity in the face of the generation of works and content. Whether it's film, video games, virtual or augmented reality, this is the most profitable industry in the world."

"The Economic and Fiscal Regime of the Canary Islands gives us a unique opportunity to develop this industry in Fuerteventura, not taking advantage of it would be a mistake that future generations will regret."

"Bets such as the DREAMLAND Audiovisual Center come to create the framework where all these contents can be developed, where our young people will also be trained to participate for the first time in the new industrial revolution of the digital era. And it is these types of bets that we have to pamper, help, care for and support seamlessly if we want to have a future for our young people beyond hospitality."

"In addition, from the BIOSPHERE RESERVE it is made clear the suitability of the soil for this initiative, next to a highway that has already anthropized the area. This body that guarantees the struggle for our territory has spoken, in this sense all other lies cease to
make sense."

"Nothing is going to replace tourism as the economic engine of the island, but it is our duty to create the framework for new labor realities to give new opportunities."
"From the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Fuerteventura we support this business proposal of DREAMLAND STUDIOS, based on quality employment and technological development, a space for the future of which they will be proud in future generations"

link to article for interesting pic - artist's impression

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

Devastating report of the Biosphere Reserve that endorses the Dreamland Studios project

At the request of the Ministry for the ecological transition, the Biosphere Reserve informs that the project is not in Natural Park, SPA zone or protected land.

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challengewas one of the first organizations that demanded information from the Cabildo and the Biosphere Reserve about the project of the audiovisual facilities Dreamland Studios S.A. next to the highway to Corralejo and its possible declaration of Insular Interest.

In this sense, the first thing that the Biosphere Reserve does and following the procedure, is the consultation with the Territorial Planning of the insular corporation in relation to the application and by virtue of the provisions of the Law of Land and Protected Natural Spaces of the Canary Islands.

Territorial Planning affirms that "seen the file", the documentation provided is the "required for the processing of an initiative of insular interest of private initiatives", it is also clarified that the land is "in accordance with the Insular Plan of Fuerteventura, in an area called SRC Zone C. Common rustic land, ZC-SRC ".

He also explains that according to municipal planning it is certified from the secretariat of La Oliva thatthere is no problem in relation to current legislation.



With this background, the Biosphere Reserve studies the Descriptive Report of the Dreamland Studios project whose objective states "is to order and design for its immediate execution a territorial area of 160,001 m2 destined to tertiary activities – non-accommodation tourism – cultural of a strategic nature. Specifically, as stated above, it is an area of audiovisual – cinematographic production and an adjoining recreational area".

After studying the documents presented by the promoters and the different reports and environmental impact studies, the Biosphere Reserve rules that:

First: As stated in the Territorial Planning report, the project is located on common rustic land, it is not in the Natura 2000 Network (SPA or ZEC), nor in the Canarian Network of Natural Spaces.

Second: The project would not be developed in the Core Zone of the Biosphere Reserve, but in the Buffer Zone "Of intermediate natural value, enveloping the core zone or next to it. They are designed to cushion the impact of human activities on core areas. It is an area where sustainable development strategies will be promoted at the local, social and economic level, favoring above all the development of sustainable agricultural activities and ecotourism. Activities in the scientific, educational and informative fields will also be favored, promoting that experimental activities can be carried out in order to improve the production of natural resources."

The report dated February 2021 has remained relatively hidden among the tangle of documentation, going unnoticed when everything indicates that it is the final report to explain the reality of the situation of the project.

link to article for full report in Spanish and pic showing proposed site

Tamara: it looks to me as if it is on the coastal side of the motorway opposite Los Risquetes

[windermeregolfer]

Personally, I find it hard to believe that a development like this would be considered yet alone allowed in such a location just SW of Montana Roja, if I have read this correctly that the Cabildo support this

Whilst supporting diversifying the employment and industrial opportunities on the island this location is totally wrong, the studio element of the proposal should be developed on the technology park near PDR.   

As to the Recreational Area I take it we are talking about a Disney Land type theme park for which there isn't IMO the population including tourists demand for when you look at how over theme parks on the various Canary Islands have failed and fallen into disrepair.

What do others think?

[GMT]

Whilst supporting diversifying the employment and industrial opportunities on the island this location is totally wrong, the studio element of the proposal should be developed on the technology park near PDR.   

What do others think?

I agree with you but in the area of the technology park right now they are building a stratoport (I can see the construction works from my window while I type this post), therefore that area can be ruled out.