Elstree Film and Television Studio is to celebrate its 90th anniversary year with a new 4,770 sq m sound stage, after Hertsmere Borough Council unanimously resolved to grant planning permission.
Montagu Evans advised the council, which owns the site, on the delivery of a new world-class sound stage facility at the studios, on land currently used as a backlot filming area, following removal of contaminated spoil in 2014 which had been on the site for over 30 years.
The new 4,770 sq m sound stage will be adjacent to the George Lucas Stage, one of the capital’s prime filming locations, with past productions including the original Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones, The King’s Speech, Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.
Following a previous planning permission in 2015, the studios erected facsimiles of Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street for The Crown, a £100m Netflix period drama about the Queen.
Jon Bradburn, associate in the planning team at Montagu Evans, said: “The technical requirements of the building and operational constraints of the site have presented a number of challenges to the process, but we are pleased to have secured a resolution that will deliver the building that the studio needs. This is an exciting development which will enable the studios to continue to offer world class facilities and continue its important film and television legacy that, given the films and programmes produces, plays an important economic and cultural role for both Hertsmere and the UK.”
Vincent Gorbing was the architect on the scheme, the design of which was commended by members.
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