Marlow Studios, a £750 million ($986 million) facility proposed for Buckinghamshire in the south of England that has received support from James Cameron, has been greenlit by the U.K. government following an appeal.
The Housing, Communities and Local Government department, led by secretary of state Steve Reed, gave its approval in a 266-page verdict after local planning issues had been raised over the site, where developers want to build 18 soundstages and a skills academy.
“The secretary of state’s determination is a real vote of confidence in the U.K. and in its creative industries. It is very welcome news,” said Robert Laycock, CEO of Marlow Studios. “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.”
Laycock added: “The decision is clear in its assessment that Marlow Studios will attract global investment, help the U.K. maintain its competitive creative edge, and will strengthen the West London film cluster.”
According to the Financial Times in an article in 2024, James Cameron came forward to back the studio, writing to the Buckinghamshire Council in support of the plans. He also said Marlow could be a potential U.K. and European home for his Lightstorm3D company which develops technology for filmmaking.
The decision by secretary of state Steve Reed to approve the development plans overturns the council’s initial move to refuse the studio’s application on grounds including inappropriate development on a greenbelt, a lack of sustainable transport provisions for commuters to the site and the impact on local highways.
“While Steve Reed’s decision notes that the development of the film studio would cause potential harm to the Green Belt through inappropriateness and openness, the decision gave greater weight to the wider benefits to justify this development in the Green Belt, including its alignment with the growth agenda given it would attract global investment,” said Victoria Du Croz, head of planning and partner, Forsters law firm.
“The areas around the M25 is a hotbed of film studios and it is perhaps telling of the strength of the U.K.’s creative industries that when the devastating LA fires hit in January there wasn’t a single film in production in LA’s studios, but the U.K. studios were already busy.”