Pinewood Studios plot Buckinghamshire expansion

Published by

Stephen Emerson

Pinewood Studios has been granted planning permission in April 2022 for a screen industries growth hub known as Screen Hub UK.

The company plan further expansions of additional studio space, open air filming locations and even an on site nature reserve.

The 77 acre Buckinghamshire development 'Centre Stage' will be on land to the south of its existing site. Permission has been granted for new studio buildings, a visitor attraction and education and business growth hubs.

Work will not stop there, a planning application is being prepared for further studio space. A related application is also proposed for an open-air filming space (known as backlot) with supporting workshop buildings, landscaping and associated parking on part of Alderbourne Farm land owned by the Studios.

The scheme also includes a proposal for the majority of the land at the farm to be used for the creation of a nature reserve with public access.

Pinewood Studios Chairman Paul Golding said: “We have listened to the feedback regarding development at Pinewood Studios and the need for further studio space. We are looking at how our plans can evolve to deliver this with improved benefits for the community and our customers.

"We will invite the local community to share their views with us on the emerging ideas and how all the benefits of the permitted Screen Hub UK scheme can be retained to continue to strengthen UK film and bring much needed jobs, skills and spending as well as local ecological benefits. We hope our planning applications will receive widespread support.”

Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, Adrian Wootton OBE, said: “The UK Screen industry is booming, generating billions of pounds for the UK economy, and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The demand for content has never been greater, which in turn is driving the need for additional studio space. I am delighted to welcome today’s announcement. Expansions like this further strengthen the UK’s offer as a destination for world-class film and high-end TV production.”

Pinewood Studios is preparing applications for these changes as a further option to the permitted Screen Hub UK scheme.

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.