Maida Vale, London — Legendary film composer Hans Zimmer is officially moving forward with a bold vision to transform one of London’s most historic sound facilities into a state-of-the-art production campus for music, film, and TV.
On April 1, Westminster City Council unanimously approved plans to redevelop the BBC’s iconic Maida Vale Studios, located in the residential district of Maida Vale in northwest London. Originally built in 1909 as an ice skating rink and converted by the BBC in the 1930s, the building has long served as a recording base for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and a venue for artists like David Bowie, Beyoncé, and The Beatles.
Now, with backing from a high-powered creative consortium—Zimmer, his longtime business partner Steven Kofsky, and Working Title Films co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner—the Maida Vale site is set to become one of the most advanced post-production campuses in the world.
A Hollywood-Grade Studio in the Heart of London
The group, operating under the name MVS Partnership, acquired the site in 2023 for approximately $11.55 million USD. Designed by the UK architecture firm Stiff & Trevillion, the redevelopment will preserve key architectural features—like its long-hidden Edwardian roof trusses—while introducing cutting-edge studio, post-production, and hospitality amenities.
When completed, the 492-foot-long, Grade II-listed building will feature two major wings:
•The Audio Wing: This will house three refurbished sound studios, a brand-new rock and roll recording room, 30 rehearsal spaces, five composer suites, and a rooftop restaurant with an outdoor terrace.
•The Visual Wing: This section will include a dubbing stage, sound effect studio, editing suites, a screening room, and flexible workspace aimed at supporting global film and TV productions.
Westminster Council highlighted the decision to expose the building’s steel roof trusses—hidden since the 1930s—as a major heritage win, despite the demolition of two historic studios included in the original BBC listing. Historic England, which designated the building as protected in 2020, did not oppose the new plans.
Construction Timeline and Industry Implications
Construction is expected to begin in October 2026, after the BBC relocates its recording operations to its new Allies and Morrison-designed facility at East Bank in Stratford, East London.
For London’s post-production landscape, this redevelopment is game-changing. It represents a strategic reinvestment in the city’s cultural infrastructure at a time when global competition for film and TV work—particularly from cities like Toronto, Atlanta, and Berlin—is fierce.
With Zimmer’s involvement and the production firepower of Working Title Films, Maida Vale Studios is on track to become a creative beacon for both international and UK-based productions looking for world-class facilities in a city synonymous with storytelling.
