Parliament has passed a bill giving local authorities in Kent new powers that will boost the county's status as a leading destination for the film industry.

Kent will now be the only place in the UK outside London to have the power to close roads temporarily so filming can take place.

The county claims the local economy has been boosted by the Kent Film Office, which was set up four years ago, to the tune of £14m.

Famous names to have filmed on location in Kent include Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana, who starred in The Other Boleyn Girl, Reese Witherspoon in Vanity Fair and Daniel Craig in The Golden Compass.

Kevin Lynes, the Kent county council cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: "This is fantastic news. Filming brings a serious income into the Kent economy, so we're absolutely committed to nurturing the industry and making Kent a national and international contender for filming."

Tanya Oliver, the director of strategic development and public access, added: "This is really exciting for Kent. We can now offer film-makers a real flexibility to meet their needs and that's going to make us an even more attractive prospect. I think our county is set for stardom that will benefit everyone."

The bill has received royal assent and became law today.

The BBC has also filmed several films and series in Kent, including Emma, which starred Michael Gambon, Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller; and Is Anybody There?, in which Michael Caine played an elderly man grappling with his own mortality.

• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.

• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".