Inside the battle against film studios being built near country town
An MP has vowed to “continue to fight” the government’s decision to approve the construction of a vast £750 million film studio complex after it was rejected by his local council.
Powered by Titanic directed by James Cameron and directed by Sir Sam Mendes 1917 And sky fall, The Marlow Film Studios project promises to build “a unique media campus in the heart of the West London cluster”.
The development will include production space for film and TV, as well as supporting buildings such as backstages and 18 soundstages, on land adjacent to Marlow Road and Westhorpe Farm Lane on the outskirts of Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Those behind the development said it would create 4,000 jobs but Buckinghamshire Council rejected the application in 2024, citing concerns about development on green belt land, impact on land and potential traffic problems.
The decision follows campaigning by Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey and local group Save Marlow’s Green Belt, who said the project would cause “significant and lasting harm to the environment, local community and nature”.
Last week, in a move symbolizing Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ desire to grow the economy by approving more planning applications despite local opposition, the Labor government overturned the decision.
Secretary of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook said Secretary of State Steve Reed had granted planning permission. A government planning inspector concluded that the economic benefits outweighed these concerns, although he noted that the project could cause visual damage to the area.
The government letter confirming approval of the project said: “The economic benefits delivered by the overall proposal and the commitments to work with a range of agencies to increase skills, provide jobs for local people and create jobs are notable.”
He added: “The proposal would deliver high-value film and TV content that could generate production spend of approximately £340 million and generate annual tax revenues of between £95 million and £265 million through direct and indirect economic activity.”
Robert Laycock, chief executive of Marlow Studios, described the government’s decision as a vote of confidence in the UK and the creative industries, saying the project would make use of what he described as “inadequate storage space”.
He said: “This is a meaningful decision for everyone who believes in the future of the UK, our nation’s creative genius and our unique ability to inspire the world.
“For Buckinghamshire, this is a strong vote of confidence in future generations. Renovating an area with inadequate storage space is the right decision to enable new careers and transfer exceptional skills in this world-beating British industry.
“This is a signal to investors seeking high-quality development done the right way, through exceptional design that brings sustainable opportunities and benefits to their communities.
“The verdict is clear in Marlow Studios’ assessment that it will attract global investment, help the UK maintain its competitive creative edge and strengthen the West London film cluster.”
But Mr Laycock’s assessment was not shared by Conservative MP Joy Morrissey.
Ms Morrissey, who had a brief acting career before entering politics, said she supported the British film industry but did not believe there was demand for more studios in the area given Pinewood’s proximity. He also fears that the jobs created will be “temporary” rather than taking root locally.
“I think this is the wrong development in the wrong place. This is a weak and deteriorating economic situation and green belt,” Ms Morrissey said. Independent.
“This is a beautiful place for wildlife. That will be completely lost when that area turns into a concrete jungle of a movie studio.”
Save Marlow’s Green Belt said the government’s decision meant the end of the campaign, but Ms Morrissey said she was working on her next steps. But he wasn’t impressed by the government’s opposition to the local council.
He said: “We all come together because we care about Marlow. This is about putting Marlow and the people of Marlow first. This comes up against us trying to stand up for local people.”
“This was rejected at the municipal level, it was rejected in strategic areas, it was rejected in the neighborhood survey by local people, so local democracy was pushed aside.”
He added: “This actually feels like a slap in the face to my residents.”
In a message to voters on Instagram, Ms Morrissey said: “I will continue to fight this” and called on the council to take the next step to bring the development into judicial review.
Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for planning, said: Independent: “We are incredibly disappointed that significant concerns raised by the council, local communities and legal advisors have not been taken into account.
“Our initial decision was based on a detailed and evidence-based assessment of the application which identified serious and unresolved issues including inappropriate development of protected green belt land, landscape impact, housing amenities, traffic, infrastructure and sustainability concerns.”
Mr Strachan said the council was aware of the importance of supporting the UK’s creative industries and welcomed investment, but believed a development should respect the environment.
Independent It approached the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment. He said he would not comment further as the reasons for the decision had already been sent.
