Hollywood-backed studio plans fail to shine for Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council has refused planning permission for a £750m film studio backed by Avatar director James Cameron and actors including Jeremy Irons and Andy Serkis.
The proposed studios, to be built on a former quarry and land infill site next to the A404 dual carriageway, have been in various stages of planning since 2021.
Despite promises of local infrastructure improvements, including funding for the heavily congested Westhorpe roundabout and the establishment of new bus services, cycle routes and walking paths, the council’s strategic sites committee rejected the plans after a six-hour meeting last week.
Buckinghamshire Council has refused planning permission for a £750m film studio backed by Avatar director James Cameron and actors including Jeremy Irons and Andy Serkis.
The proposed studios, to be built on a former quarry and land infill site next to the A404 dual carriageway, have been in various stages of planning since 2021.
Despite promises of local infrastructure improvements, including funding for the heavily congested Westhorpe roundabout and the establishment of new bus services, cycle routes and walking paths, the council’s strategic sites committee rejected the plans after a six-hour meeting last week.
The council’s published decision said the studios would “result in spatial and visual harm” to the area and conflict with policies aimed at preserving the green belt for outdoor sport and recreation.
The council also argued that the increased traffic from the film studios would severely impact road safety and flow, worsening local congestion and on-street parking issues.
Marlow Film Studios’ chief executive Robert Laycock said: “Despite many members on the committee crediting the quality of the application, and acknowledging the very significant social and economic benefits it would bring to Buckinghamshire, we are disappointed the committee was not able to support this extraordinary proposal,” he said.
“It is one of the most significant investment opportunities in the future of Buckinghamshire and its residents, and we are now considering the next steps for the development.”
Director James Cameron, who had previously supported the project, had seen Marlow as a base for his company, Lightstorm3D, and a training centre for new filmmaking technologies. He said the new development would boost the UK’s current 22.5% share of the global box office.
Research from Knight Frank last year found that an additional 2.6m sq ft of studio space was needed in the UK to meet demand. Its UK Film and Television Studios Market Report found that production spend in the UK was forecast to increase by £2.4bn annually by 2028, requiring an additional 2.6m sq ft of studio space.
