diff --git a/datagateway_api/common/base_query_filter_factory.py b/datagateway_api/common/base_query_filter_factory.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..89405f78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datagateway_api/common/base_query_filter_factory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from abc import abstractstaticmethod
+
+
+class QueryFilterFactory(object):
+    @abstractstaticmethod
+    def get_query_filter(request_filter):
+        """
+        Given a filter, return a matching Query filter object
+
+        :param request_filter: The filter to create the QueryFilter for
+        :type request_filter: :class:`dict`
+        :return: The QueryFilter object created
+        """
+        pass
diff --git a/datagateway_api/common/datagateway_api/query_filter_factory.py b/datagateway_api/common/datagateway_api/query_filter_factory.py
index 5d3830f8..2ad97b0e 100644
--- a/datagateway_api/common/datagateway_api/query_filter_factory.py
+++ b/datagateway_api/common/datagateway_api/query_filter_factory.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 
+from datagateway_api.common.base_query_filter_factory import QueryFilterFactory
 from datagateway_api.common.config import APIConfigOptions, config
 from datagateway_api.common.exceptions import (
     ApiError,
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger()
 
 
-class QueryFilterFactory(object):
+class DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory(QueryFilterFactory):
     @staticmethod
     def get_query_filter(request_filter):
         """
diff --git a/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py b/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py
index 74ed1ac4..64a126b4 100644
--- a/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py
+++ b/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from datagateway_api.common.datagateway_api.database import models
 from datagateway_api.common.datagateway_api.query_filter_factory import (
-    QueryFilterFactory,
+    DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory,
 )
 from datagateway_api.common.date_handler import DateHandler
 from datagateway_api.common.exceptions import (
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ def get_filters_from_query_string():
         for arg in request.args:
             for value in request.args.getlist(arg):
                 filters.extend(
-                    QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({arg: json.loads(value)}),
+                    DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(
+                        {arg: json.loads(value)}
+                    ),
                 )
         return filters
     except Exception as e:
diff --git a/datagateway_api/common/search_api/query_filter_factory.py b/datagateway_api/common/search_api/query_filter_factory.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2bb312c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datagateway_api/common/search_api/query_filter_factory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import logging
+
+from datagateway_api.common.base_query_filter_factory import QueryFilterFactory
+from datagateway_api.common.exceptions import FilterError
+
+log = logging.getLogger()
+
+
+class SearchAPIQueryFilterFactory(QueryFilterFactory):
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_query_filter(request_filter):
+        query_param_name = list(request_filter)[0].lower()
+        query_filters = []
+
+        if query_param_name == "filter":
+            log.debug(
+                f"Filter: {request_filter['filter']}, Type: {type(request_filter['filter'])})"
+            )
+            for filter_name, filter_input in request_filter["filter"].items():
+                if filter_name == "where":
+                    pass
+                elif filter_name == "include":
+                    pass
+                elif filter_name == "limit":
+                    pass
+                elif filter_name == "skip":
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    raise FilterError(
+                        "No valid filter name given within filter query param"
+                    )
+
+            return query_filters
+        else:
+            raise FilterError(f"Bad filter, please check input: {request_filter}")
diff --git a/test/db/test_query_filter_factory.py b/test/db/test_query_filter_factory.py
index 4171174b..fe0a6113 100644
--- a/test/db/test_query_filter_factory.py
+++ b/test/db/test_query_filter_factory.py
@@ -9,15 +9,17 @@
     DatabaseWhereFilter,
 )
 from datagateway_api.common.datagateway_api.query_filter_factory import (
-    QueryFilterFactory,
+    DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory,
 )
 
 
 # TODO - Move outside of db/
-class TestQueryFilterFactory:
+class TestDataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory:
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("flask_test_app_db")
     def test_valid_distinct_filter(self):
-        test_filter = QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"distinct": "TEST"})
+        test_filter = DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(
+            {"distinct": "TEST"}
+        )
         assert isinstance(test_filter[0], DatabaseDistinctFieldFilter)
         assert len(test_filter) == 1
 
@@ -34,25 +36,27 @@ def test_valid_distinct_filter(self):
         ],
     )
     def test_valid_include_filter(self, filter_input):
-        test_filter = QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(filter_input)
+        test_filter = DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(filter_input)
         assert isinstance(test_filter[0], DatabaseIncludeFilter)
         assert len(test_filter) == 1
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("flask_test_app_db")
     def test_valid_limit_filter(self):
-        test_filter = QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"limit": 10})
+        test_filter = DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"limit": 10})
         assert isinstance(test_filter[0], DatabaseLimitFilter)
         assert len(test_filter) == 1
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("flask_test_app_db")
     def test_valid_order_filter(self):
-        test_filter = QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"order": "id DESC"})
+        test_filter = DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(
+            {"order": "id DESC"}
+        )
         assert isinstance(test_filter[0], DatabaseOrderFilter)
         assert len(test_filter) == 1
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("flask_test_app_db")
     def test_valid_skip_filter(self):
-        test_filter = QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"skip": 10})
+        test_filter = DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"skip": 10})
         assert isinstance(test_filter[0], DatabaseSkipFilter)
         assert len(test_filter) == 1
 
@@ -71,6 +75,6 @@ def test_valid_skip_filter(self):
         ],
     )
     def test_valid_where_filter(self, filter_input):
-        test_filter = QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(filter_input)
+        test_filter = DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(filter_input)
         assert isinstance(test_filter[0], DatabaseWhereFilter)
         assert len(test_filter) == 1
diff --git a/test/test_query_filter.py b/test/test_query_filter.py
index 3304fa40..3ce98717 100644
--- a/test/test_query_filter.py
+++ b/test/test_query_filter.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from datagateway_api.common.datagateway_api.query_filter_factory import (
-    QueryFilterFactory,
+    DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory,
 )
 from datagateway_api.common.exceptions import ApiError
 from datagateway_api.common.filters import QueryFilter
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ def test_invalid_query_filter_getter(self):
             return_value="invalid_backend",
         ):
             with pytest.raises(ApiError):
-                QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"order": "id DESC"})
+                DataGatewayAPIQueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({"order": "id DESC"})