
Our job is managing filming in Merton for the benefit of the community and the council.
Filming can help to raise the profile of Merton to a wide audience and be a source of revenue for the council and local causes. London has a major international film industry which generates revenues of over £4 billion per year and employs most of the approximately 70,000 people working in the UK film industry. Merton, as a key London borough, aims to be at the forefront of this exciting industry. For more about the UK film industry, see the BFI 2014 Statistical Yearbook.
We think it is important that filmmakers come to an agreement with people in the community before they start filming. They might offer to make donations to local associations of residents or traders, community projects like maintenance of local parks or to local charitable causes. We also encourage filmmakers to offer film opportunities in Merton such as positions for young people on film sets.
If you are interested in being part of this process, have a look through rest of the information on this page to find out how.
You can help to use local filming to your community's advantage by joining or creating a local resident or trader association. Or your neighbourhood might already run an association you can join. The council has a list of some tenants and residents associations that might be helpful, click here for more information on these. We notify the associations we know of about any filming planned in their area, and we have standing agreements with several of them. If you represent an association like this and would like to be more involved in local filming, please send us an email with the contact and other details of the association.
For major shoots, we encourage filmmakers to engage with known local associations to agree conditions for filming, which can include direct donations to local causes. Filmmakers behind smaller shoots usually send in advance letters to all nearby buildings, or visit in person to talk through the plans and discuss any issues which need to be addressed.
Our community consultation process is guided by the Code of Practice for Location Filming in London.
From time to time, Merton Film Office will conduct a comprehensive survey of residents and traders about their experience of filming in their neighbourhoods. This is part of the agreement between FilmFixer and Merton Council to make sure we are providing a quality service to the community.
If you would like to take part in the survey please send us an email with your name and address.