The £750m Marlow Film Studios project in Buckinghamshire has been given the go-ahead following a long-running planning battle between developers and the local council.
Planning permission for the studios, spearheaded by Robert Laycock, chief executive of Marlow Film Studios, was rejected in 2024 by Buckinghamshire Council after concerns were raised about the impact on the local road network and the use of greenbelt land for development.
However, following an appeal from the developers, there was a public inquiry earlier this year, and Steve Reed, secretary of state for housing communities and local government, has now approved the plans.
The plans are for a 36-hectare plot built upon a former landfill site to the east of Marlow, with Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and James Cameron among those backing the project.
In the decision letter, the government noted the Marlow Film Studios proposals “have sought to… minimise impacts and avoid harm and contribute to the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty, special qualities, and key characteristics of protected landscapes where possible”.
The letter added the development “would attract global investment, owing to its purpose-built, high-quality, Grade A studios, supplemented by its other supporting uses, in particular the culture and skills academy.”
The studio claims it will create 4,000 jobs, including 2,000 within the local economy, and provide a boost of £3.2bn in growth investment in the local area over the first decade.
Laycock said: “The Secretary of State’s determination is a real vote of confidence in the UK and in its creative industries. It is very welcome news. This is a meaningful decision for anyone who believes in the UK’s future, our nation’s creative genius, and our unmatched capability to inspire the world.”
Speaking today at the UK Screen Investment Summit Laycock added: ”We’re planning more than a film studio – we’ve designed a media campus for the next generation… Current technologies and tools are embraced, but our organising principal is talent.”
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