The £200m plans to expand the studios where the latest James Bond movie was filmed have been rejected for the second time.
Pinewood Shepperton’s 1m sq ft plan for the Iver Heath site, west London, were rejected by South Buckinghamshire district councillors.
The expansion would have increased the studio’s production facilities to shoot films, a move Pinewood claimed would bring around £400m into the UK economy.
A statement from chief executive Ivan Dunleavy, released on the company’s website, said: “This is a disappointing decision by the local planning authority. It is hard to believe, given the country’s economic difficulties, that SBDC would turn down a £200m project creating 3,100 jobs in the vibrant and growing film and television sectors.
“The company remains committed to the Pinewood Studios Development Framework and we will be studying the decision with our legal and planning team and expect to appeal the decision to the Secretary of State.”
The Pinewood Studios Development Framework is designed to address the increasing global demand for UK film production capacity.
jack.sidders@estatesgazette.com
