A dispute over the proposed Marlow Film Studios, a project to build a major film production facility just west of London, could become a key test case for the Labour government’s ambitious plans to overhaul the UK’s planning laws in a bid to drive economic growth.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to “bulldoze through restrictive planning laws” that have been blamed for making it difficult and costly to build in Britain. As part of his government’s economic strategy, Starmer is focusing on sectors such as film and TV production, which have gained global recognition for their capacity to rival Hollywood. The UK has produced blockbuster films like Barbie, Harry Potter, and Deadpool & Wolverine, and Starmer’s government sees this as an area ripe for growth and investment.
Starmer is expected to reference this focus on the creative industries in a speech outlining his government’s priorities later this week. However, any intervention in local planning decisions, such as the proposal for a film studio in Marlow, risks alienating voters who may oppose large-scale developments in their communities.
The marlow film studios proposal
Marlow Film Studios, which counts high-profile directors such as James Cameron, Sam Mendes, and Paul Greengrass among its supporters, has proposed to build a 470,000 square-foot film studio on a 56-acre site located on a disused landfill near the market town of Marlow. The facility would be designed to accommodate soundstages for film and television production, and its backers argue that it would create around 2,000 jobs once operational.
However, the proposal has been met with significant opposition from local residents and officials. The site is situated within an area designated as “green belt” land, a designation intended to protect rural areas from development and prevent urban sprawl. Local authorities, including Marlow’s parish council, have raised concerns that the project would disrupt the local environment and change the character of the area, which locals had envisioned as a public park.
Earlier this year, the local council rejected the proposal, citing the site’s green belt status. Yet, the national government, which came to power in July, has stepped in to oversee the appeal process. Culture Minister Lisa Nandy has emphasised the need for economic growth and stated that the government will consider the broader benefits of the proposal when making its decision.
The appeal is set to proceed to a planning inquiry before the government makes its final ruling, which is expected sometime in 2025.
The debate over green and grey belt land
In an attempt to ease planning restrictions, Labour has suggested the concept of “grey belt” land, a new classification for areas that are less ecologically significant and more suitable for development. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner sparked controversy earlier this year when she argued that much of the green belt land in the UK is of poor quality and should be opened to developers. Rayner’s comments have raised the prospect that the government could reclassify land in areas like Marlow, making it eligible for development.
In its appeal, Marlow Film Studios has argued that the proposed site should be considered grey belt land, given its current condition as a disused landfill and its location near a busy road. However, opponents of the project, including environmental groups, reject this view, arguing that the site should be preserved for its ecological value, and that further urbanisation would put wildlife at risk.
If approved, the Marlow Film Studios would be located in an area that is already home to several major film studios, including Warner Bros. in Leavesden and Pinewood Studios, where films such as James Bond and Star Wars have been produced. Supporters of the Marlow project believe that expanding film production capacity in the UK will help the country compete on the global stage and support its growing creative industries.
Economic growth and the UK’s film industry
The UK’s film industry has been a major contributor to the economy, with the British Film Institute reporting that £4.2 billion was spent on film and high-end TV production in 2023 alone. Around 78% of this spending came from inward investment or international co-productions, underscoring the importance of the industry’s global connections.
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In line with this, the government has supported the expansion of UK soundstage space, with the British Film Commission’s programme helping to double production capacity in recent years. This growth is seen as vital to keeping the UK competitive in the global film market.
Campaign groups, however, have raised concerns that the country may be at risk of overbuilding production facilities. Groups like Save Marlow’s Greenbelt argue that the demand for studio space could be overstated, especially in the wake of industry slowdowns such as the recent U.S. writers’ strike. Critics also question whether the job creation promised by such projects would truly benefit the local community or simply relocate employment from existing studios.
The future of UK film production
While the debate over the Marlow Film Studios project continues, the wider context of the UK government’s plans for the future of film and TV production is clear. With an eye on supporting the creative industries and attracting international investment, the Labour government is pushing forward with plans to reform planning laws and promote growth in key sectors like film production.
Whether or not the Marlow project succeeds in the face of local opposition, it will serve as a significant indicator of the government’s willingness to challenge traditional planning rules in the pursuit of economic development. The final decision will be a landmark moment in the ongoing debate over how best to balance environmental protection, local concerns, and national economic priorities.
