Rejected film studio welcomes government review

The decision to reject plans for a new multi-million pound film studio will be looked into by the government.

Buckinghamshire Council rejected proposals for Marlow Film Studios in May over concerns on how it would have a negative impact on the green belt.

The Planning Inspectorate will now review an appeal against this decision made by the developer Dido Property Limited.

The chief executive of Marlow Film Studios, Robert Laycock, said he was looking forward to working with the review team and said the project met national government goals.

"We think our project meets national government goals on growth, on jobs, on international investment, and on support for the UK’s world class film and TV sector," said Mr Laycock.

"The high technology studio campus we are building will meet the needs of global investors and production companies, preparing the UK for the next half-century of British film-making.

"We will also continue to collaborate with local communities, confident of the benefits that our project will bring in terms of local investment, improved infrastructure, 4,000 new jobs and unparalleled opportunities for training and education."

The Planning Inspectorate said all evidence for the appeal needed to be submitted by 14 December, while the the public inquiry itself would take place at a later date not yet set.

The council's decision to reject the application was welcomed by campaign groups such as Save Marlow's Greenbelt which has said it was "delighted" with refusal.

It said: "The planning committee clearly agrees that the lack of certainty over the benefits and the absolute certainty of the harm means that Marlow is the wrong place for a development of this type."

Marlow Film Studios had argued the site would generate £3.5bn per decade.

Plans included a £20m investment in local infrastructure, including upgrades to the A404's Westhorpe junction to the north of Marlow and establishing two new public bus services.

The proposals had been supported by Hollywood stars such as James Bond director Sam Mendes and Avatar creator James Cameron.

It was rejected by the council's strategic sites committee over concerns the project was an inappropriate development for green belt land and would have a significant impact on the local road network.

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