Sky Studios is set to appeal Hertsmere Borough Council’s decision to deny permission for their planned expansion into Green Belt land.

During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, October 9, Cllr Jeremy Newmark, the authority’s leader, confirmed that Sky Studios had submitted a formal notice to the Planning Inspectorate regarding their intention to appeal. “It is now, effectively, a live appeal in process,” Newmark stated.

A Sky Studios spokesperson also confirmed their intent to appeal, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they are committed to moving forward with the appeal process.

Sky Studios is aiming to expand their Elstree North site further north, located between Rowley Lane and the A1 Barnet bypass. The proposed expansion would cover approximately 772,500 square feet. However, back in March, Hertsmere’s planning committee narrowly voted against the 17-acre expansion by six votes to five, primarily due to concerns about the Green Belt.

Sky had argued that the project would create thousands of jobs and satisfy the “very special circumstances” required for Green Belt development. After the initial refusal, a Sky spokesperson expressed disappointment with the committee’s decision, particularly since it went against the advice of planning officers. “We will be taking some time to assess our next steps and will engage further with the council, planning officers, and community stakeholders. We remain committed to delivering our plans for Sky Studios Elstree North.”

Cllr Morris Bright, leader of the Conservative group at Hertsmere Council, raised questions at the cabinet meeting, expressing surprise that a report on planning appeals did not specifically mention the Sky Studios application. He pointed out that this could be “one of the largest [appeals] we’ve ever had” and noted that it could bring a “considerable” financial burden to the council.

The council’s report indicated that at least one major development refused earlier in 2024 would be subject to the appeal process, likely leading to a public inquiry in early 2025.

Given the growing costs of planning appeals, the council approved a plan to allocate an additional $366,000 to cover future expenses. In the 2023/24 fiscal year alone, Hertsmere spent around $403,000 on appeals and public inquiries for various sites, including Harris Lane in Shenley and Little Bushey Lane in Bushey.

This year, an estimated $183,000 will be spent on similar appeals. The council has managed to win 60 percent of its appeals over the last four years, though many of these challenges relate to larger strategic sites within the Green Belt. The report highlighted that the council’s decision to “set aside” the draft Local Plan in April 2022 triggered a wave of speculative applications, particularly for residential developments on Green Belt land.

A new draft Local Plan was put out for consultation in April of this year, potentially setting the stage for more discussions on developments like Sky Studios’ proposed expansion.