Marlow Studios Granted Planning Permission following Public Inquiry

The decision, made by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State, recognised that 'world class, Grade A, purpose built film studios that would attract global revenue and support the UK in its drive to become a global leader in this field' whilst also delivering 'facilities to be used for educational community uses, private hire and cultural events.'

The decision underlines the government’s commitment to further growing the UK’s creative industries as a critical driver for the growth of the UK economy. Official figures published earlier in the year by the BFI showed that film and the high-end TV production spend in the UK in 2024 was £5.6 billion, a 31% increase on 2023, as parts of the sector regained momentum, generating billions for the UK economy.

Having assembled the proposed development site on the outskirts of the Marlow, Marlow Studios appointed WilkinsonEyre as Architect for their scheme following an architectural competition held in 2021. These detailed plans were examined by the Planning Inspector and Public Inquiry.   

Marlow Studios set out to commission something different from many existing facilities, sympathetic to the landscape and designed to embed itself into the local environment.  The designs provide a range of carefully designed buildings of differing scale and typology, set amongst extensively landscaped streets and open space.

“Our proposals work hard to create a complex at Marlow that embodies a genuine ‘sense of place’ and marries into the existing landscape.”  said Oliver Tyler, Managing Director at WilkinsonEyre.

The overall development has been split into several ‘clusters’, each with its own amenity buildings serving those who work on the site. Smaller-scale workshops, innovation labs and offices have been strategically positioned to aid the screening of the larger studio buildings, particularly at the site perimeter, helping to reduce the visual impact of the scheme. The pitched and ‘saw tooth’ roofs of the workshops and offices act as visual counterpoints to the ‘larger’ rectilinear, flat-roofed studios.

Throughout the development, there are a range of buildings of differing hierarchy offering support functions to the wider development whilst providing variety and richness to the ‘townscape.’ These include the Studio Hub, which houses the main administration facilities, along with screening theatres, exhibition space, restaurants and bars. The space also houses; the Culture and Skills Academy, a bespoke flexible building which will lead the Studios’ commitment to training and development for the sector and in the local community. 

A community building is also included for the benefit of local residents and groups. The development also seeks to connect with the local community through numerous public cycle, running and walking routes crossing the site, offering views into the studio complex and providing a sense of the activities going on within.  These facilities are also designed to enhance the working experience for those employed in the Studios. 

The nature of filmmaking sees peaks and troughs of activity, with most productions occupying parts of the development for fixed tenures. To ensure year-round activity areas of the development are reserved for businesses, particularly those that provide support film,  HE TV and content production.

Careful consideration has been given to the form and materiality of the buildings within the development, taking into consideration the semi-rural and urban nature of the site. A palette of materials has been chosen to help the development to harmonise with its sensitive setting including dark cladding and warm terracotta colours, invoking the material palette of rural buildings in southern England.

“WilkinsonEyre’s brief was clear from the outset: to design the premier film and media studio complex in the UK,” said Robert Laycock, CEO of Marlow Film Studios. “Their designs certainly deliver this, while the Studios also promise to become a true community asset, providing economic and job opportunities for the local area, and the chance to sustain Buckinghamshire at the centre of the country's fast-expanding creative sector.”