UK Film Studio Developers to Appeal £750m Project Rejection

key takeaways

In a move viewed as a test of a larger drive by the new government to emphasise economic growth, the developers of a planned £750 million film studio outside London, supported by Hollywood directors including James Cameron of Titanic, have stated that they want to restart the delayed project.

Following Buckinghamshire County Council's earlier rejection of the proposed new complex, Marlow Film Studios announced that it will appeal to a national planning agency.

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It stated, "We remain confident of the strength of our case and of the benefits that our investment will bring to the local community and the wider national economy, even in light of the council's decision to reject our application."

Four local businesspeople own the enterprise, which counts James Bond filmmaker Sam Mendes, Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass, and director Cameron among its supporters. Supporters anticipate that the new studios in London's commuter belt will create 4,000 employment, half of which will be local to the Marlow area.

The council rejected the plan in May, saying there was insufficient evidence to justify the studios being built on greenbelt land, which is intended to prevent urban sprawl into the countryside.

Shortly after Labour won last month’s general election, the new chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said she wanted to change planning rules and would give new instructions to local authorities that sites in poor-quality parts of the greenbelt be considered for development.

Marlow Film Studios said the project would be built on a former landfill site.

A local campaign group opposed to the studio complex, Save Marlow’s Greenbelt, has said the site is not derelict and supports a valuable ecosystem, while its openness helps to protect the character of the Buckingham town and surrounding villages.

In its decision in May, the council also noted the impact of increased traffic on local roads. Marlow Film Studios said it would invest in traffic infrastructure and public transport.

The UK already has a number of sizable studios, such as Shepperton in Surrey and Pinewood in Buckinghamshire, but prior to a recent downturn, space had been limited due to the streaming boom.