THE borough council is set to profit from filming taking place in Basing View through the use of one of its public car parks.

As previously reported, a film crew descended on Basing View last week thought to be shooting action spy series Citadel for Amazon Prime starring Richard Madden, who was spotted there last week by a member of the public.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Lorries, trailers, flood-lights and catering facilities are packed into the council-run Lower Basing View Public Car park, arriving last Wednesday.

The film set is located in the Grade II-listed Mountbatten House - sold for £2million in 2019 to Squarestone Growth - and the land which the building sits on is owned by the borough council.

The council’s executive director of borough development Ian Boll said it does not charge for filming on its land because “this provides a great opportunity to showcase Basingstoke and Deane and to promote it to new audiences”.

However, he said the production company has been paying “a commercial rate” to use the car park.

He added: “As we look ahead to the borough’s economic recovery from the pandemic, it is important that we look for opportunities to raise the profile of the borough to help us attract external investment to ensure it remains a great place to live, work and visit.

“The production company currently filming at Basing View involves a large number of people and the company are paying a commercial rate for the use of the parking area for its equipment and staff.”

The film crew is expected to be on site until Wednesday.

The plot details of Citadel are being kept under wraps but it is described as an ‘action-packed spy series with a compelling emotional centre’.

It also stars Priyanka Chopra and Ashleigh Cummings who was photographed filming with Madden at a fire station in Oxford earlier this month.

Have you spotted any of the film stars in Basingstoke? Email Emily.roberts@newsquest.co.uk.