Plans for 8-stage 'boutique film studios' in Wycombe are revealed

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TBM Team

It seems as though every few weeks there's another announcement unveiling the opening of yet more major TV and film studios in the UK, with the South East playing host to most of them.

The latest large project will see the Buckinghamshire town of High Wycombe get its own 'eight-stage boutique film studio' in a move which could create more than 1,200 jobs in and around the Chilterns town.

The independent film studios will cover almost 300,000 square feet once completed and should be open by the end of the year. An agreement for a major Hollywood feature film to begin shooting at Wycombe Film Studios in 2022 has already been signed.

Temporary planning applications have already been submitted to Buckinghamshire Council, with an application for something more permanent to follow later in year. It will see a 26 acre site just off the M40 transform into a high-end sustainable film studio that should attract production companies and content creators from across the world.

James Enright, CEO of the firm behind the studios, Stage Fifty, had this to say about it all: "We're excited to reveal our plans for Wycombe Film Studios. We've been working behind the scenes for two years to ensure we have everything in place to build a world-class film studio with all the elements for success."

"We've received temporary planning approval to build one stage and workshops and have submitted further applications for three more stages to support a major feature film that will start shooting this year. We'll apply for full planning permission to create the long-term permanent studio in the coming months."

"Stage Fifty creates sustainable studios, and together with our partners, we've developed new technologies and innovative ways to build greener and more quickly than our competitors. This will be our third site in the UK. We've achieved great success with our other film studios in Farnborough and Winnersh, and we're looking to continue this success in High Wycombe."

"Wycombe Film Studios will stimulate economic growth throughout the region, supporting around 600 temporary jobs during the construction phase alone. Once the studio is operational, it will create around 750 full-time direct jobs and support 450 indirect jobs in the supply chain."

"Ideal for independent productions and global franchises alike, the studio will establish High Wycombe as a destination for national and international film and high-end television projects, attracting the world's most innovative content creators and inspiring a new generation of British filmmakers in the heart of Buckinghamshire."

Stage Fifty already have two other local sites; one in Farnborough and one in Winnersh.

Neil Seager, partner at Haslams Chartered Surveyors, welcomed the impact that the sector was having on the region's property sector.
“After advising Stage Fifty on their acquisition of Winnersh Film Studios, I am delighted to
be advising them again on Wycombe Film Studios, he said.

"There remains insatiable demand from producers for studio space for streaming content and blockbuster movies. From a property perspective the sector remains in its infancy. For me it’s exciting to be on board at this early stage. It will be interesting to see how the sector progresses over the next
few years. I predict it will mature into a sub sector of the “alternative” property
investment market initially by way of predominantly direct investment and in time indirect
via dedicated creative arts funds. For now, though it is very much the operators such as
Stage Fifty that hold the key to success in the sector. Without an experienced operator a
studio cannot even get off the ground.”

Adrian Wootton OBE, the Chief Executive of the British Film Commission said this about the studios: "The UK is enjoying an immense, once-in-a-generation production boom, generating billions of pounds for the UK economy and translating into thousands of new jobs across the country's nations and regions. Indeed, the demand for filmed content is at an all-time high, which in turn is driving the need for additional studio and stage space."

"The development of new facilities, such as Wycombe Film Studios, in tandem with a focus on greater skills development, will further strengthen the UK's position as a leading centre of film and high-end TV production in the world."

It's yet another vote of confidence for the British film and TV production industry which further cements its place as a world-leading place to create the very best video content for a mass audience.

TBM Team