Helpful Information

Filming Guidelines

Bolton Council is film friendly, and understands the value of student filming.  As such, Bolton Film office facilitates small crews of student filmmakers at no charge for filming on Bolton Council public land.

Any restrictions are to keep you safe, the public reassured, and maintain our film friendliness for new and exciting projects.  Failure to adhere to our Filming Guidelines could result in no future permits being issued.

If you wish to film on private property, you will need to find out who owns the property and ask permission.  

You will need to inform the Film Office of your intentions and apply for a permit if:

  • You plan to film in a public space which will cause obstruction (by equipment or people)
  • Have content which includes weapons, drones, children, animals
  • The work is for broadcast or commercial gain.

 

All students are required to read this guidance to understand what you need to do and when. Please note that:

  • Applications can only be made for land managed by Bolton Council
  • You should familiarise yourself with the exact location before you make a Filming Application and confirm you are applying to the correct Authority for permission
  • You must abide by your University/College Code of Conduct while filming in a public space
  • You are responsible for the safety of your crew and proper use of filming equipment while on location
  • Not all applications are successful, you may apply again for a different location or date if your location is unavailable or unsuited to the proposed filming you have described in your original application
  • Your Risk Assessment must be signed by your Course Tutor, without this a Permit cannot be issued
  • You must provide a copy of your University/College’s public liability insurance (PLI), a minimum of £10 million is required.

 

Risk Assessments

Bolton Film Office has a template available for student projects should you require one (Student Filming Risk Assessment – word doc).

When completing a Risk Assessment think carefully about:

  • Identifying the hazards – what is it about the activities, process, equipment or substances used that could injure you, your colleagues, participants or the public
  • Who might be harmed – is the hazard more dangerous for your colleagues setting up filming, for the public in the vicinity of the filming, for people with restricted mobility, or for any others?
  • The measures to take to decrease the risks — e.g. if you have cables running along the floor, covering the cables with mats will decrease the risk of trips and falls.
  • Re-Evaluate the Risks – in light of the mitigation measures you’ve implemented. The score should come down.
  • Your course tutor should be able to support you where required.

 

Private Property

For private property and residences, you must gain the permission of the property owner. If the property is rented, you need to gain permission from both
the people who live there and also the landlord.

Filmmakers should ensure that location owners and adjacent property owners are kept fully informed of your intentions, given details of any art department
requirements including dressing and construction and issued with a location contract which clearly states the terms agreed between themselves and the filmmakers.

Insurance

For all filming you will need to provide evidence of adequate public liability insurance (ask your tutor for a copy of your University/College policy). For filming
on land managed by Bolton Council you are required to have at least £10,000,000 public liability indemnity.

Notifying Local Residents and Businesses

If we feel that your production is likely to impact on residents and businesses around the filming location, we would request that they are notified of your activity by letter at least seven days in advance of filming. You should include your contact details in this letter and encourage people to get in touch if they have any concerns about your proposals. Filmmakers on location are visitors and should be
sensitive to the community in which they are working. Noise should be kept to a minimum, especially during unsociable hours (10pm to 8am). Students should carry their college/university  identification with them whenever they are filming,
regardless of the location or the scale of the shoot.

Disclaimer

Any filming undertaken within Bolton Council jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the Production and its employees. Bolton Council will accept no liability for loss, financial or otherwise, alleged to have incurred as a result of this code.
Bolton Council has no rights of the films, photographs and recordings made and/
or taken by the Production. In all cases, you will indemnify Bolton Council against any damage which may be caused on council managed land by the negligent act or omission of the Production, your agents, employees or invitees.

Filming Outside of Social Hours in Residential & Commercial Areas 

Bolton Film Office considers any filming activities taking place between 22:00 and 08:00 as ‘unsocial hours’, or ‘night filming’. 

As soon as you are aware that you need to shoot at night at your chosen public location, an application must be submitted to Bolton Film Office detailing the request, including all scenes, action and equipment to be used. This will be reviewed and subject to resident consultation and agreement.  Please allow adequate time for this.  

Production should do a letter drop to residents of the area detailing the requested filming, with a copy sent to Bolton Film office for internal circulation, which should include production contact details for residents to contact to obtain more information. 

Consideration must be taken to residents of the area, including lighting and noise control. Where it is unavoidable to use generators, they should be silenced.  Radio communications should be via earpiece.  Avoid light spill, and temporary structures and mobile platforms should not intrude into anyone’s property. 

Crew should be respectful of the local community, and any unnecessary crew and production amenities should be sited away from residential properties.  

Upon wrap, all equipment should be packed away as quietly as possible, and depending on the time, technical vehicles may be asked to remain on site until the morning.  

Good practice is to then do a further letter drop to residents with words of appreciation, thanking them for their patience and continued support. 

If you are seeking to close a road, you will need to apply for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO); please allow 12 weeks lead time. Site visits with Bolton Film Office must take place before any TTRO is applied for. We will always aim to work with productions to find the best solution. 

Pay and display parking may be suspended for such things as loading and unloading throughout the day.  You must apply for a suspension at least two working days before the required date.  

Please contact Bolton Film Office for further information.

Find the current list of fees.  Please contact Bolton Film Office for any queries regarding specific location hires.

Should you require to use an unmanned aircraft (also known as a drone) for the purposes of filming on Bolton Council land then you must engage with Bolton Film Office.  Advanced planning and liaison must take place with the CAA, Bolton Council and any other stakeholders.  

For more information, please read the Filming in England guidelines (opens as PDF) or refer to the CAA website for more information.

All documentation to be submitted no later than 7 working days before the filming day.  

Bolton Council understand the role we play in promoting and encouraging environmental sustainability, including the reduction of carbon emissions from incoming Film and TV productions. Our efforts aim to create a positive environmental and social impact on our community and the region we serve.  

We recognise our collective responsibility – both as an organisation and as individuals – to continuously lower emissions and work towards delivering a positive legacy for our environment and local communities. By supporting the film and TV sector in adopting sustainable practices, we aim to ensure that Bolton remains a thriving, environmentally responsible destination for productions.  

Bolton Council is committed to working collaboratively with Filming in England and other stakeholders to promote sustainable solutions to support productions on reducing their carbon footprint.  

Commitments: We encourage productions filming in Bolton to adopt sustainable best practices and to take steps to minimise their environmental impact. These include, but are not limited to:  

Sustainable Production Policies: We ask productions to share their green policies. If none exist, we will signpost to relevant organisations that can help develop one.  

Sustainable Travel: Encourage cast, crew, and suppliers to opt for sustainable travel options wherever possible. Incentivising carpooling, use of public transport, and other eco-friendly travel choices.  

Waste Reduction: Implement the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle across all departments. Eliminate single-use plastics and work with local waste disposal services to ensure responsible waste management.  

Reduce Paper Use: Adopt a digital-first approach, printing only when absolutely necessary.  

Recycled/Pre-used Materials: Prioritise purchasing pre-used costumes, props, and appliances to reduce demand of new resources.  

Raising Awareness: Use ‘Green Memos’ to keep crew informed about sustainability practices. Where relevant, engage crew in sustainability training.  

Energy Efficiency: Commit to using low-energy equipment, renewable power sources, and green fuel options on set.  

Local Crew: Use the Filming in England National Crew Directory to source local crew to minimise the carbon impact of travel.  

Sustainable Suppliers: Use the Filming in England National Supplier Directory to source local suppliers with sustainability credentials.  

Sustainable Accommodation: Where possible, opt for local accommodation close to base, and consider hiring available spaces instead of using trailers.   

Community Recycling: Partner with local charities and community organisations to recycle materials from the production, including donating leftover catering to food banks and local shelters 

If you are planning to include child performers in your production, you may be required to apply for a Child Employment Licence. 

Best practice is to employ a registered chaperone to ensure the safety, comfort, and welfare of the child is taken care of.  

Please speak to Bolton Film Office if you have any queries about employing children in your production. 

Film Offices: UK (FO:UK)

Bolton Film Office is a proud member of Film Offices: UK.

Remit and Purpose

Established in August 2013, Film Offices UK acts as a forum in which qualifying independent Film Offices across the UK can share information, best practice, and evaluate current industry trends.

Definition

A Film Office is a not-for-profit service wholly or partly funded by local and/or combined county wide authorities with a dedicated member of staff resourced to support film and TV production of all types proactively and reactively without prejudice.

They provide a single point of contact with industry knowledge, building a network within the county wide authority and any subsidiary authorities and the local area, troubleshooting where necessary.

Membership Fee

There is currently no annual membership fee.

Administration

The FO:UK Chair is elected annually in December. They manage all central administration, communication and financial tasks for the forum, as well as act as the central contact for enquiries and Production Guild membership.

Meetings

  • Meetings will be held quarterly online – members of the group must attend at least one meeting per year.
  • When meetings are held in person, the Chair will ensure these are convened in an easily accessible location, ideally at a time that ensures everyone can travel off peak.
  • Prior to a meeting, the Chair will determine whether there are enough members planning to attend in order to proceed.
  • The Chair shall be responsible for setting out and distributing agendas.
  • The Chair shall be responsible for chairing and recording meetings.
  • After each meeting, the Chair shall distribute a summary of the meeting and any action points.

 

The Production Guild Membership (PGM)

Film Offices: UK holds an affiliate membership with The Production Guild.

Members of FO:UK may take advantage of this and contribute to this membership.

  • The cost for affiliate membership will be split equally between participating FO:UK members.
  • The Chair will administer membership – submitting or renewing the application, collecting membership fees from participants, and then paying for the membership in full.
  • Affiliate membership gives FO:UK four user accounts and entitles up to four FO:UK delegates to attend any one PG member event.
  • All participating FO:UK members can be listed on the affiliate page of the website and promote themselves as a PG affiliate.
  • PGM runs alongside the financial year. Therefore, any film office wanting to join must do so at the start of the year.

 

Other relevant events

Film Offices UK is not limited to meetings and joint PGM and can explore other, mutually beneficial joint ventures, such as event attendance at the Focus Show.

The lead office is currently the Buckinghamshire Film Office.

For more information about the Film Offices: UK group, please contact the Buckinghamshire Film Office.

The Film Offices: UK group consists of the following offices which facilitate filming in their local areas:

The Bath Film Office covers the World Heritage city of Bath plus the old mining towns and picturesque villages of north east Somerset.  We promote, manage and provide advice on filming on behalf of Bath and North East Somerset Council. We support student and commercial shoots of all sizes. Period filming a speciality.

The Berkshire Film Office is a project run and managed by not-for-profit production company and training provider, Resource Productions CIC.  We act as bridge between the film industry and the six local authorities that make up Berkshire, to facilitate filming on location. The Berkshire Film Office responds to and manages filming enquiries and facilitates a creative and technical talent pipeline through its ‘Creative Collective’.

Since its inception in 2019, we have supported productions including Killing Eve, Heartstopper and Cruella, working with industry giants such as Netflix, Disney and Amazon Studios.

Film Birmingham is the film office for Birmingham run through Birmingham City Council. We are responsible for facilitating, supporting and developing the film & television industry in the city.

The BCP Film Office provides access, licensing, and logistical support for prime filming spots in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole on England’s south coast. Our dedicated team is your one-stop shop for all filming needs, guiding you every step of the way. The BCP Film Office team will support you with finding and licensing the perfect location, arranging permissions for unit bases and assist with finding crew accommodation.

BCP Film Office has gained positive feedback from a number of production companies and location managers including from both ITV for ‘You Bet!’ On Tour and Netflix for ‘The Witcher’ and has been praised for logistical assistance and onsite support.

Bradford. Based in the world’s first UNESCO City of Film we provide a FREE service which will allow you to find the perfect location, advice on crew, assistance with permissions, how to approach parking and traffic control. We are located at the University of Bradford. Having close connections with the local council, businesses and property owners we can guarantee to support all your needs to ensure productions run smoothly. For any filming taking place within the Bradford district it is important to us that we are aware of your intentions so that we can assist and continue with our reputation as being a film friendly city.

Bristol Film Office is a free service to all productions planning to film in the city, dedicated to making your film, television or commercial photography shoot run as smoothly as possible when on location in Bristol. We are a division of Bristol City Council and the one-stop-shop for all filming enquiries. We can assist at all stages of production, from initial location and crewing advice to recces and logistical support.

The Buckinghamshire Film Office helps production companies take advantage of Buckinghamshire’s rolling countryside, diverse architecture, picture-perfect villages and urban landscapes providing information on our locations and assisting with permit applications across council services.

Cardiff Film Unit (CFU) is the film office for the capital city of Wales, a division of Cardiff Council, marketing the city as a prime filming location and providing high-grade location and production services to production companies, broadcasters and independent film-makers, from initial location and crewing advice to recces and logistical support.

Screen Cornwall‘s vision is to be the most vibrant, rurally dispersed content production region, underpinned by world-leading sustainable practice. To achieve this, we focus on talent, infrastructure, cultural distinctiveness and innovation to ensure that Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly is a welcoming and inspiring place to create work both for incoming production and home-grown productions, and a great place to build a screen business.

Screen Devon is the first point of contact for any productions planning to shoot in Devon. We are an experienced and well-connected team, committed to a film-friendly approach and dedicated to helping your film, TV or commercial shoot run as smoothly as possible. We can support at all stages, from initial location scouting through to advice on permissions and logistics, so you can make the most of our diverse and visually stunning county.

Film Edinburgh is the film commission for Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders, facilitating filmmakers looking for locations, crew and facilities and promoting a film-friendly environment for filmmakers in south east Scotland.

Essex Film Office is the primary point of contact for advice and management of filming on location and permissions across Essex.

From stunning landscapes to unique spaces and facilities, we work with key local contacts, including private landowners and local authorities, to enable the smooth running of filming in Essex.

Filmwight is operated with the endorsement of Isle of Wight Council, with assistance from Arts Council England, Solent LEP and our Island businesses. Our team is experienced, pragmatic and dedicated to making the Island a place where film, TV and photographic projects take place easily and efficiently.

Created by Venture South, the Isle of Wight Cultural Investment Company, we are part of the Island’s growing creative sector, connected to mainland organisations and part of a strategic plan to promote the Island as a space to create. We are committed to our sustainable future and proud that the Island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of only seven in the UK.

Glasgow Film Office (GFO) is the film commission for Scotland’s largest city, offering a free service to all productions including feature films, television, commercials, music videos and more.  GFO markets Glasgow as a premier UK centre for film and TV production and helps to facilitate location filming in the city, provide all the information a production needs – from location and crewing advice to recces and logistical support. GFO’s goal is to ensure a flourishing industry that benefits the entire city.

Hertfordshire Film Office provides a seamless, one-stop source of support for productions looking to film in the county. It offers a location matching service, the organisation of highway filming permits and expert traffic management, access to local crew and facilities, production advice and guidance and much more. Hertfordshire is perfect for film and TV production, with its abundance of picturesque villages, historic market towns, woodlands and industrial sites. HFO is cultivating a growing database of film locations across the county, working with location owners and managers to help them connect with filmmakers and secure more commercial opportunities. HFO also aims to maximise the potential of Hertfordshire’s rapidly growing creative and screen industry. It works closely with Creative UK, Hertfordshire County Council and local district and borough councils to raise awareness of the economic benefits and jobs that the growth of the industry can bring. It also works with local partners to bring forth vital skills development, business support and screen tourism initiatives.

Kent Film Office is a Kent County Council initiative which is the premier film commission for the county of Kent and provides a location finding, film permitting and liaison service for all manner of productions. The Kent (Filming on Highways) Act 2010 also allows us to easily close roads or use traffic management for filming purposes.

Liverpool Film Office is the first and oldest Film Office in the UK we are a department of Liverpool City Council that is responsible for facilitating television and film production in Liverpool and Merseyside.

Screen Manchester is the Film Office for Manchester City Council and delivers a comprehensive support service for all types of production seeking permission to film on location within Manchester. Our experienced team have worked on a range of high end TV, feature film and commercial productions and will provide a detailed service.

Film:New Forest has been created as an economic development initiative by New Forest District Council (NFDC). Working in conjunction with key organisations, our aim is to boost the New Forest’s reputation as a film and TV filming location. We have a can do attitude and our completely free film-friendly service offers you a one-stop shop for:

·         New Forest-based locations

·         Access to skilled local crew

·         Permits to film

·         Parking and traffic control assistance

·         Permission for filming on council-owned property

Norfolk Screen is the official Film Office for the region and acts as your one stop shop for all the information you could need to meet your filming requirements in the county. Our film friendly county provides world class locations, talented crew and wonderful facilities and services. We welcome all productions to come and see why Norfolk should be your next filming destination.

North East Screen are the creative industry development agency for the north east. We work to promote the region to film and TV production companies. We have databases of locations, crew and facilities available to visiting production. All of our local authorities have signed up to our filming friendly charter – committing to understand and work with production wherever possible.

North Somerset Film Office, part of North Somerset Council, is proud to have been the backdrop for many great productions. Ideally located in the heart of the South West between Bristol and Bath, we have a mixture of gorgeous coastlines, beautiful countryside and idyllic towns and villages. North Somerset Film Office is committed to making film production as easy and efficient as possible and is your one stop shop for finding locations, crew, facilitating highway requests, parking, and issuing permits. Our aim is to make our region as film friendly as possible and we welcome productions of all sizes and types.

Screen Somerset is the film office for the newly formed Somerset Council, here to help with any filming related enquiries and requests covering the county. Close to Bristol and Exeter and with easy access from the M5, we have countless stunning locations ranging from coasts to castles, moorland to market towns with several AONBs and many photogenic villages and historic buildings. Hot spots include Cheddar Gorge, Wells Cathedral, Shepton Mallet Prison and the beaches of Berrow and Burnham-on-Sea. Whatever location you’re looking for the film office is here to help you find it and make sure your filming runs smoothly.

Surrey Film Office has been created as an economic growth initiative by Surrey County Council. Working in conjunction with Surrey’s District and Borough Councils and key organisations, our aim is to promote Surrey as a first class filming location. We can source film locations, provide essential contacts and issue permits to film on the public highway.

TayScreen + FifeScreen is the screen commission for Fife and Tayside in Scotland serving Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire.  We provide a free service to help projects across all kinds of media to source film locations, services and crew and work across the region to ensure a film-crew friendly reception.

Thurrock Film Office was established in 2018 as part of the need for Thurrock Council to establish a proactive and consistent offer for those wishing to film in the borough. Thurrock Film Office is a free to use service for all production companies who will coordinate all responses, across all council services thus acting as one point of contact for all filming enquires.

Film Torbay is a local authority film office, covering the English Riviera and our unique UNESCO Global Geopark. We provide advice and guidance on finding that perfect location. You will have a dedicated point of contact for all your film enquiries, acting as a liaison across the local authority, and with our partners. Our film friendly service is here to help make your production as simple as possible.

Production Central WM is the region’s dedicated production services agency, backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority and partnered with Create Central. We bring together everything a producer needs – locations, crew, facilities and support – into one streamlined service. Our mission is simple: to remove barriers and make the West Midlands the easiest place in the UK to produce content.

Screen Yorkshire. Yorkshire Film Office and Production Liaison Service provides comprehensive expertise on all aspects of filming in Yorkshire & Humber with a dedicated team on hand on to advise on locations, crews & facilities, studios & production bases and filming permissions. The Yorkshire & Humber online location database features an extensive range of locations for any film or television production – from rugged landscapes to period properties, industrial heritage to sleek contemporary architecture.

FO:UK is proud to be an affiliate member of the Production Guild.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.