Steven Knight, the Birmingham-born creator of Peaky Blinders, has revealed plans to open a six-stage TV and film studio complex in the city.

The 20-acre site, set to be called Mercian Studios, will be located near Birmingham airport and include six sound stages. It will also have on-site post-production and a range of facilities including set building, costume and props.

Knight has been planning the studios for the past three years and anticipates that by the end of 2018, everything will be in place for work on the development to start.

The studios will also be as eco-friendly as possible, with Knight describing the complex as “the greenest TV studios in existence”.

He also reassured residents that the studios will be designed to have a positive impact on the surrounding area, including bars, restaurants, a cinema and a theatre. The studios will offer apprenticeships, teaching craft skills used within the studio environment.

Knight is passionate about developing a sustainable TV production community in the West Midlands and Mercian Studios will be funded entirely through private investment using no public funding, with the intention of opening the doors in a three year time frame.