Written by new-contact on Feb 1, 2013. Posted in On Location

Pinewood Studios submits plan for major expansion of London site

Pinewood Studios is submitting a planning application for a major expansion of its London site. The Pinewood Studios Development Framework (PSDF) comprises 100,000 square metres of new facilities including studio space, production offices and streetscapes.

When completed, the facilities – priced at nearly GBP200 million – should keep Pinewood at the forefront of global studio production for the next two decades. The announcement of the PSDF comes days after a report commissioned by Pinewood and Creative England found that UK studios would need to expand to stay globally competitive.

“This is a critical opportunity for the creative industries and particularly for the UK film industry,” comments Ivan Dunleavy, Chief Executive of Pinewood Shepperton: “Without infrastructure to meet the rising demand, the UK will inevitably turn away business. Pinewood Studios, the UK film industry and UK plc cannot afford to allow this to happen.”

This is a critical opportunity for the creative industries and particularly for the UK film industry.

Ivan Dunleavy, Pinewood Shepperton Studios

“There is no doubt in my mind,” adds filmmaker Ridley Scott, “that the UK has to keep investing in new technology, skills and infrastructure to keep pace with international competition. The expansion at Pinewood is long overdue.”

The UK’s international appeal is set for a boost in the coming months when the government launches a new location filming tax credit for high-end TV productions.