Labour's Growth Agenda Clears Hurdle as Marlow Film Studios Get Green Light
In a move that has been hailed as a significant boost for the UK film industry, ministers have approved plans to build a £750m Hollywood-style film and TV studios complex in Marlow, west of London. The project, which is backed by high-profile figures including Sam Mendes and James Cameron, will create 4,000 jobs and include 18 sound stages as well as a culture and skills academy.
The decision comes after Buckinghamshire county council initially rejected the planning application, prompting its backers to lodge an appeal with the national planning body. However, Labour's minister for housing, Steve Reed, called in the application, effectively putting his weight behind the project.
Reed's intervention was seen as a benchmark for Labour's commitment to economic growth and putting aside local opposition. While some have expressed concerns about the impact of the development on the green belt, the government has prioritized the potential benefits to the industry, including attracting global investment.
The Marlow Film Studios project is part of a broader trend of government support for creative industries, with other recent approvals including plans for Sky's studios in Elstree and Comcast's Universal Studios theme park in Bedford. However, not everyone is celebrating - local campaign group Save Marlow's Greenbelt has expressed disappointment at the decision, citing concerns about the impact on the environment, local community, and landscape.
"We believe the development will cause significant and lasting harm to the environment, the local community, and the landscape," said Sam Kershaw, leader of SMG. "Throughout this process, our detailed analysis exposed numerous material weaknesses in their case, which should have resulted in refusal."
Despite these concerns, the decision is likely to be seen as a victory for Labour's growth agenda and its commitment to supporting key industries.
In a move that has been hailed as a significant boost for the UK film industry, ministers have approved plans to build a £750m Hollywood-style film and TV studios complex in Marlow, west of London. The project, which is backed by high-profile figures including Sam Mendes and James Cameron, will create 4,000 jobs and include 18 sound stages as well as a culture and skills academy.
The decision comes after Buckinghamshire county council initially rejected the planning application, prompting its backers to lodge an appeal with the national planning body. However, Labour's minister for housing, Steve Reed, called in the application, effectively putting his weight behind the project.
Reed's intervention was seen as a benchmark for Labour's commitment to economic growth and putting aside local opposition. While some have expressed concerns about the impact of the development on the green belt, the government has prioritized the potential benefits to the industry, including attracting global investment.
The Marlow Film Studios project is part of a broader trend of government support for creative industries, with other recent approvals including plans for Sky's studios in Elstree and Comcast's Universal Studios theme park in Bedford. However, not everyone is celebrating - local campaign group Save Marlow's Greenbelt has expressed disappointment at the decision, citing concerns about the impact on the environment, local community, and landscape.
"We believe the development will cause significant and lasting harm to the environment, the local community, and the landscape," said Sam Kershaw, leader of SMG. "Throughout this process, our detailed analysis exposed numerous material weaknesses in their case, which should have resulted in refusal."
Despite these concerns, the decision is likely to be seen as a victory for Labour's growth agenda and its commitment to supporting key industries.
that's such a bummer 
for the people of Marlow tho... 4k jobs sounds amazing, but at what cost? 
i can understand why they're worried about the green belt & local community... it's just one of those things where progress comes with some major trade-offs 
what do u think the govt should've done instead? 
. But then again, if it brings jobs and investments, maybe it'll be alright? I don't know... I'm not exactly a film buff or anything 
. Can someone explain how this is supposed to benefit the UK in a simple way? 
. But at what cost? The green belt is such a precious resource, and if this development really does cause harm to the environment and local community, I think it's a big risk for Labour to take 
.
. Can't we find ways to balance progress with preservation? 
It's not like we're running out of space or anything. And 4,000 jobs, wow! That sounds like a lot of people who will be working long hours in a stressful environment for minimal pay. I'm sure it'll all work out perfectly in the end... right up until the dust settles and the noise from the sound stages starts keeping everyone awake at night 
.
But at the same time, I feel bad for the local community in Marlow. Like, I know the studios are gonna create jobs and all that, but what about the people who live there already? Are they just gonna be, like, pushed out by some fancy new development? 
. I just hope they can find a way to make the studios work without, like, destroying the environment or anything 
.
. BUT FOR NOW, I'M JUST GOING TO ENJOY SEEING ALL THOSE FILM SETS AND TV SHOW STUDIOS UP AND RUNNING 
. But we have to consider the bigger picture here – how will this development affect the local community and the environment in the long run? 
. We need to make sure that we're striking a balance between progress and preservation 
.
The £750m investment is massive and will create so many jobs - 4,000 is insane! 
I'm loving the fact that Labour's backing has given the project a green light, it shows they're committed to supporting key industries. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good Hollywood film? 
The only thing that might be a bit of a worry is the impact on the environment, but fingers crossed they'll do everything to minimize that effect 
. And what about the cost? £750m is a whoppin' amount of cash 
(although, i hear local ppl are worried bout the green belt...fair enough, but u can't just ignore opportunities for growth & investment, right? 
But I do feel bad for Save Marlow's Greenbelt group - they were right to have concerns about the impact on our beautiful green belt area. 
i feel bad 4 them cuz they r rite to be concerned but at da same time its hard 2 argue w/ the gov cuz dey did offer a lot of jobs n investments 
According to my research, 60% of UK film productions are made outside London, so this project is set to bring some much-needed investment & talent back to the West 
Did you know that only 14% of global TV shows are actually produced in the UK? 
. Still, congrats to Labour on getting that approval 
£750m investment is crazy! think it's gonna be a game changer for the UK film industry, especially with Sam Mendes & James Cameron on board 
but like any growth agenda, you gotta weigh pros & cons right? 
. And with Sam Mendes and James Cameron on board, it's going to be a whole new level of productions 
. Sure, there are some concerns about the green belt, but I think the benefits far outweigh them 
. I'm all for supporting our creative industries and bringing in global investment