Latest news with #GreystokeLand
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Council spent £240k opposing Holyport studios project
A council that was opposed to a major film studios being built on green belt land spent £240,000 successfully fighting against plan for the complex in Holyport, Berkshire, was proposed by investment company Greystoke Land but Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) councillors rejected it in March minister Matthew Pennycook upheld the authority's decision to refuse permission earlier this deputy head of planning Louise Reid celebrated the decision and said it was a good outcome for the authority's officers. She said Mr Pennycook's decision was the first appeal the current Labour government had dismissed after deciding it would take the decision itself rather than leaving it to a planning inspector."That's a bit of a feather in our cap that we've actually got a dismissed appeal – so good outcome," she plan included sound stages, workshops, offices, footpaths, a multi-storey car park, a filming area, a new roundabout and a "media village" for post-production Greystoke Land's application, the government agreed with the council that the company had not searched widely enough for "reasonably alternative sites".The cost of opposing the studios plan was less than the £260,000 RBWM spent on defending its decision to refuse the Spencer's Farm housing development, which it lost last year. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Angela Rayner blocks plans for huge film studio in countryside village
Angela Rayner has blocked plans for a new film studio the size of 66 football pitches in a Berkshire village. The Housing Secretary said plans for the studios, which would have been the third-largest in the UK, would have been harmful to the green belt and backed claims they were 'simply not needed'. Greystoke Land, an investment company, applied for planning permission to build the complex next to the village of Holyport, near Maidenhead, in 2022. The £260 million plans included sound stages, workshops, offices, a multi-storey car park and a roundabout. It would also have included a 'media village' with a virtual reality studio and an area for open-air filming. Studios 'simply not needed' Councillors at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead rejected the application in March 2024, as they agreed with a planning report that said green belt development should only be allowed in 'very special circumstances' and that the studios were 'simply not needed'. The council said the case for the studio was 'overstated' because several others had already been built nearby. It also made the case that less TV and film are being made in the UK, citing statistics from the British Film Institute that the production volume fell by a quarter between 2022 and 2024. The company argued that the studios would provide economic benefits to the local area, and that the threat to green belt land had been 'exaggerated' by the council. The site, which spans more than 100 acres, is currently made up of fields on either side of a narrow lane near the village of Holyport, which dates back to the 13th century and was once home to the British racing driver Stirling Moss. The studio developers said the project offered 'the opportunity to create an entirely new film studio complex directing hundreds of millions of pounds of new investment into the local economy, and creating hundreds of new jobs'. Not considered 'alternative sites' The company's appeal was heard in November, then 'called in' by Ms Rayner's department for a final decision to be taken by ministers. She agreed with planning inspectors that 'there is likely to be sufficient capacity within existing studio space' for the industry in Berkshire and the rest of the South East 'for the immediate future'. She also argued that Greystoke had not searched enough for 'reasonably alternative sites' that would not have such a significant impact on the green belt. Responding to the appeal, the junior minister Matthew Pennycook said Ms Rayner was 'not persuaded that a clear and convincing need case has been demonstrated'. In a letter published on Friday, he insisted that the Government supports 'the growth of the creative industries in the UK'. But he said that the harm to green belt land 'is not clearly outweighed by other considerations and therefore there are no very special circumstances which would justify this development'. Labour to reduce green belt protections It comes despite Labour plans to relax protections for the green belt, which the Government said would help drive economic growth and the housing supply. Countryside campaigners have opposed the reforms, which made it easier to receive planning permission for green belt projects, especially on sites that have already been developed, now known as the 'grey belt'. Sir Keir Starmer said in December that he wanted to 'get the balance right with nature and the environment'. But he said that 'a human being wanting to have a house' would be the Government's priority, rather than protecting unspoiled land or commercial developments. The new grey belt is defined as green belt land that 'does not strongly contribute to green belt purposes,' which include limiting urban sprawl, stopping towns merging into one another and preserving historical character.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plan for Holyport film studios refused by government
Plans to build one of the UK's biggest film and TV studios have been rejected by the company Greystoke Land had appealed to the government to allow the film studio to be built in Holyport, after councillors at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) refused to grant planning minister for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook rejected the appeal on Friday, citing its "potential harm to the green belt".The BBC has approached Greystoke Land for comment. The investment company applied for permission to build the studio complex on both sides of Gays Lane in plans included sound stages, workshops, offices, footpaths, a multi-storey car park, a backlot filming area, a new roundabout, and a "media village" for post-production. In March 2024, councillors refused planning permission because of concerns about the green Land appealed and said the council had "exaggerated" the harm to the green belt and ignored its economic said there was a "pressing need for the proposed development".Property consultant Montagu Evans added: "This is no ordinary development proposal and nor is it one that meets a generic need that could be met anywhere."But RBWM said Greystoke had overstated the economic case for the studio, and the development of other studios in Berkshire and the south east meant there was less of a case for building another one in appeal was heard by a planning inspector last November, but government housing ministers said they would make the final Pennycook said the government supported "the growth of the creative industries in the UK" but there was "likely to be sufficient capacity within existing studio space" for the industry "for the immediate future". You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decision on major film studios pushed back
A decision on whether one of the UK's biggest film and TV studios is granted planning permission should be made next month. Investment company Greystoke Land submitted plans to build sound stages, offices and workshops near the village of Holyport, near Maidenhead, Berkshire. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead refused the application last year, citing its impact on the green belt. Officials on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said a decision on the plan was delayed until on or before 26 June. It had been expected by Thursday. The project, first announced in 2022, could create 1,500 jobs. It would extend over 43 hectares (106 acres) of land on Gays Lane in three areas. The sound stages, workshops and offices would allow multiple film and TV productions to be shot on the same day and at the same time. A "media village" would include a virtual reality studio offering CGI creation, augmented and virtual reality and gaming, while there would also be an area for open-air filming. Greystoke Land appealed to the government's planning inspectorate after the council dismissed its application. The council previously said that the case for the studios was "overstated" as a number of others have already been built in the south east of England. It cited statistics from the British Film Institute that film and TV production volumes fell by 25% between 2022 and 2024. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Government intervenes over film studio proposals Film studios proposal to go to planning inquiry Hollywood-backed film studio is refused permission Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Decision on major Holyport Studios pushed back by government
A decision on whether one of the UK's biggest film and TV studios is granted planning permission should be made next company Greystoke Land submitted plans to build sound stages, offices and workshops near the village of Holyport, near Maidenhead, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead refused the application last year, citing its impact on the green on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said a decision on the plan was delayed until on or before 26 June. It had been expected by Thursday. The project, first announced in 2022, could create 1,500 would extend over 43 hectares (106 acres) of land on Gays Lane in three sound stages, workshops and offices would allow multiple film and TV productions to be shot on the same day and at the same time.A "media village" would include a virtual reality studio offering CGI creation, augmented and virtual reality and gaming, while there would also be an area for open-air Land appealed to the government's planning inspectorate after the council dismissed its application. The council previously said that the case for the studios was "overstated" as a number of others have already been built in the south east of cited statistics from the British Film Institute that film and TV production volumes fell by 25% between 2022 and 2024. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
