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Information for Industry

Hampshire and Solent Film Office provides a streamlined, one stop service for productions of all sizes, from student films to major international projects.

We use the industry standard permitting system FilmApp, making it quick and straightforward to apply for filming on council land and public roads in the Hampshire and Solent region. As soon as you know where and when you want to film, log in and submit an application and our team will ensure permits are processed efficiently so you can stay on schedule.
All productions are required to hold a minimum of £5m Public Liability Insurance (£10m minimum in some circumstances) before permission can be granted. This ensures filming is safe, legally compliant, and respectful of residents and businesses.
Our experienced team understands the pressures of production and the need for flexibility. Whether you require road closures, parking suspensions, or support with resident engagement, we will coordinate with the relevant council departments and stakeholders to keep your shoot running smoothly.
If you are new to filming in the Hampshire and Solent region or unsure whether your chosen location is covered, please get in touch using the Contact Information below, we are here to help.

FAQs

How do I apply for a license to film?
If you already know where and when you are planning film, please click the APPLY TO FILM (FILMAPP) button at the top of this page to submit your application. Depending on the contents of your shoot, a lead-in time might apply. Please see the Fees and Lead Times sheet in the Useful Documents section on the FilmApp page.
Yes, you are required to supply Public Liability Insurance (PLI) of a minimum of £5million. The insurance must be in the name of the production company named on the application and it must be valid in the UK. In some circumstances, a minimum of £10m PLI may be required.
Filming incurs Location Fees and / or Admin Fees, depending on where you are filming. Location Fees tend to be chargeable in any of the following locations: estates, libraries, parks, green spaces, squares, pedestrianised areas, markets, leisure centres, swimming pools, town halls, Council offices, and car parks. When filming on a public highway, you will not be charged a Location Fee, but Admin Fees are still applicable. There may also be other fees attached to your shoot such as Temporary Structure fees or Temporary Traffic Order fees, depending on what you plan to do. You can find the guideline figures for the region on the Fees and Lead Times sheet under the Useful Documents section on FilmApp. Charities and students may be eligible for reduced fees.
If you are filming on public, Council-owned property such as roads, parks, libraries and cemeteries, the chances are that you will need to apply to film with us. If you are unsure whether a location is Council owned or not, get in touch via the Contact Information below.
Although we do not necessarily need to licence your filming, we do ask that you make us aware of your shoot as we have a duty of care to ensure that productions have completed a sufficient residential consultation. If you require any parking or use of the public highway, you will need to apply as usual.

We have our own Location Library, which can be found here. You can browse by style, key word or genre to find what you are looking for. If you have a specific brief that you are struggling to fill, please do get in touch and we will do our best to make suitable suggestions. Email info@hampshireandsolentfilmoffice.co.uk with as much of the following as possible: – The production name / production company – A rough idea of your dates and timings – An overview of your brief – Any reference images you have – A rough idea of your budget

If you need to suspend parking for filming purposes – regardless of whether you are filming on private or Council property – you will need to complete a parking suspension application. Please contact us with details of your requests. You will then need to complete a FilmApp application and upload the parking form to your application, then we can process your parking. We may also offer daily permits or dispensions for DYL/SYL for some locations. Give us a call to discuss your requirements further if you are unsure of the next steps.
Any filming involving a drone will require a separate licence. You can find all of the necessary information, including an application form, guidance notes and information sheet, in the Useful Documents section on FilmApp.
If the pitch or court in question is part of a Council run site, you still need to apply for a license to film through us. We will then liaise with the relevant sports facility for your booking. Some pitches/courts come with hire costs which need to paid on top of location fees and administration costs. We will be able to advise of the costs following your application.
A film agreement is not usually required for breaking or live broadcast news being filmed on public highways. The news crew must be in possession of a press pass issued by the NUJ and ID provided by their employer. News crews filming on location or filming narrative/content pieces must apply for a license and pay the relevant fees.

You will need to obtain police consent when you are filming with anything that looks like a weapon (knives, baseball bats etc), any replica or airsoft firearms, when you have actors in uniform, if you are filming with replica emergency vehicles, if your scenes could be seen as a criminal or violent act, if you have real or perceived nudity or when there could be an issue with public safety due to your filming. Information on contacting the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary regarding your filming can be found here.

Any filming which involves the employment of children under school leaving age (whether paid or not) requires a child performance license from the Council. Please note: the licence must be issued by the Council of the child’s borough of residence, not the borough in which the filming is taking place.