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£1bn film studio project secures new headquarters

Nathaniel LawsonLocal Democracy reporter
Marlow Studios A large office building with a middle section which has a tall glass frontage. The section to the left has a sloping roof on two levels, and to the right there is a standard two-storey building. There are benches on the pavement area in front with plants in a bed.Marlow Studios
The headquarters of Marlow Studios will be located on the other side of the A404 to where the production facilities will be built

Plans for the £1bn Marlow Studios project have taken a step forward with the company securing a new headquarters.

It has acquired Marlow International - a 12-acre site of office space that is adjacent to the main 90-acre development.

Marlow Studios, formerly known as Marlow Film Studios, said the move marked the start of the project.

It was given the go-ahead in November by the government after plans were initially rejected by Buckinghamshire Council, amid concerns about developing on protected land.

Marlow Studios An artist's impression of what one of the buildings at Marlow Studios could look like - a reflective building surrounded by trees, greenery and a cycle path.Marlow Studios
Marlow Studios' plans include promises of investment in public infrastructure, such as bus services

Robert Laycock, chief executive of Marlow Studios, said: "As the creative media market increasingly turns to the UK to deliver projects of all scales and formats for global audiences, Marlow Studios' investment approach is to meet growing demand for premium infrastructure and production facilities.

"The depth of talent here, and its capacity for leadership across film, television and technology, is exceptional."

He added that the Marlow International site would act "both as a base for our expanding team and to accommodate inbound productions requiring office and production space, even ahead of work commencing on the main site".

The studios could create about 2,000 jobs and contribute £249m to the economy annually, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The site will also include a Culture and Skills Academy, to develop talent for the future of the UK film industry.

It has been supported by Hollywood names including Avatar creator James Cameron, Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis and Bond director Sam Mendes.

Reuters A drone view shows the proposed site of a new major British film studio, in Marlow. Green and brown fields sit next to a major dual-carriageway road.Reuters
The council argued the site near Marlow was green belt land and not appropriate for development, but was overruled by the government

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