Pinewood Studios to go ahead with expansion plans

Pinewood Studios, the UK’s largest movie-production facility, is to go ahead with its controversial expansion plan. The idea is to build a number of back-lot permanent sets, including a castle, Venice canal, an Italian lakeside, plus typical city streets from New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London – plus 2000 homes - reports RapidTV.

Indeed, it is the 2000 homes that are causing the main challenges for “Project Pinewood”, which nearby residents of the Iver, Buckinghamshire (west of London) site see as being the real reason for the scheme. Pinewood, which made more than $7m/£3.8m (£2.9m last year) in pre-tax profits in the first half of this year helped by the latest James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and Universal’s The Wolfman, as well as hosting TV productions such as Little Dorrit, The Weakest Link and Dragon’s Den. Movie productions generated £13m (up 20%) in revenues, while TV facilities brought in £5.8m, up £1m on the same period last year. Total revenues were £21.7m for the six months to the end of June.

Project Pinewood’s expansion plan has been described by Ivan Dunleavy, CEO of Pinewood Shepperton, as being part of a “integrated living community” bringing together homes for the creative industries working at the facility. However, he also says “the project will be open to everyone”, and it is this aspect that has local residents and planning authorities concerned.

A statement said: “The Board expects that following public consultation, a planning application will be made during the fourth quarter of 2008. Development of the scheme will be commenced in collaboration with appropriate partners once planning consent is granted. Total costs incurred to 30 June 2008 were £1.3m, and it is anticipated that a total of £3.0m will be incurred progressing the application to submission by the year end.”

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