Written by new-contact on May 13, 2013. Posted in On Location

Pinewood warns of James Bond filming loss without studio expansion

Pinewood Studios has warned that without permission to expand its facilities, the James Bond franchise could decide to film future instalments in studios outside the UK. Local authorities will decide this week whether Pinewood can go ahead with a GBP200 million expansion plan.

Pinewood says that major expansion is vital to maintaining its long-term position as a world-leading production facility, but past versions of the plan have been strongly opposed by residents living near the studio.

"We're at capacity, the UK is at capacity; something has to give," Pinewood Chief Executive Ivan Dunleavy told the Guardian: "If we as a sector don't respond to the growing demand then someone else will. [The producers of the Bond films] have to be financially responsible. If they get a better proposal elsewhere than the UK can mount then they have to look after their business as well."

We're at capacity, the UK is at capacity; something has to give. If we as a sector don't respond to the growing demand then someone else will.

Ivan Dunleavy, Pinewood Studios

The new plan would create around 3,000 jobs and is expected to deliver an extra boost of around GBP150 million a year into the UK's economy. "Pinewood is the spiritual home of James Bond and the two franchises have enjoyed a long-standing relationship," Skyfall director Sam Mendes added to the outlet: "Tradition, however, is not enough on its own."