CBRE consultant executive director Simon Barrowcliff is among a cohort of local businessmen proposing to turn a site in Buckinghamshire into a world-leading film and television production campus.
Dido Property is seeking to transform an 85-acre former landfill site outside of Marlow into a “state-of-the-art, world-class studio”. If its plans proceed, the project will create more than 5,000 jobs.
The campus, which would be situated next to the A404 at the Westhorpe junction, will be designed by masterplanning firm Prior+Partners and architects Wilkinson Eyre.
A “thorough” public engagement process with the local community is set to begin this month. Dido expects to submit a planning application in early 2022.
Dido was launched last year by its chief executive Robert Laycock, who has managed the Ian Fleming estate, to facilitate the development proposals.
Laycock, who remains an active partner in the James Bond creator’s estate, was also first assistant editor on the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love. He is producing an adaptation of cult novel The Magus with Sir Sam Mendes and Dame Pippa Harris.
He co-founded Dido with Barrowcliff as well as John Hartz, co-founder of private equity firm Inflexion, and William Stonor, executive chairman of the Stonor Park family home.
Laycock said: “We want to solidify the UK as the number one location for film making globally – an essential part of the UK’s economy as we build back better.
“We know circa ten major movies were lost between 2016 and 2018 due to the lack of suitable studio space which is the equivalent to a loss of £950m to the UK economy. We cannot allow major film productions to default elsewhere due to a lack of quality studio space.
“The film studio will be a destination for home-grown and internationally significant talent across all areas of production. It will become a place for the most innovative and artistic minds to come together right in the heart of Buckinghamshire, building on its world-renowned reputation for high-end film and TV production.”
Other notable film studios in the county include Pinewood Studios in Iver, Denham Film Studios in Denham and the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.
He added: “The team behind this project have lived and worked in the area all our lives, and we are passionate about delivering a project that we, and the rest of the community can take real pride in.
“Our involvement as individuals will continue long after the studio opens for business to the world’s greatest talents. This is all about making a thriving place which raises the bar for the film-making experience.”
To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@eg.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @EGPropertyNews
