The future of the multi-million dollar Marlow Film Studios is now in the hands of the UK government as they review Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to reject the plans. The initial rejection, made in June, was largely due to concerns over the use of green belt land, a common issue in developments of this scale.

At the time, Buckinghamshire Council followed the recommendations of its planning officers, citing local objections about the impact on green belt land and potential strain on nearby roads. However, since then, developer Dido Property Limited has appealed the decision, and Marlow Film Studios CEO Robert Laycock remains optimistic.

“We think our project meets national government goals on growth, on jobs, on international investment, and on support for the UK’s world-class film and TV sector. The high technology studio campus we are building will meet the needs of global investors and production companies, preparing the UK for the next half-century of British filmmaking,” Laycock told the BBC.

Laycock is actively working with the review team and continues to emphasize the broader benefits for the local area, including local investment, improved infrastructure, and the creation of 4,000 new jobs. “We will also continue to collaborate with local communities, confident of the benefits that our project will bring in terms of local investment, improved infrastructure, 4,000 new jobs, and unparalleled opportunities for training and education,” he added.

When the project was initially rejected, Laycock acknowledged the significant support the project has garnered. “In addition to luminaries like James Cameron, Andy Serkis, Paul Greengrass, Richard Curtis, Jeremy Irons, and a host of global figures who support us, we are most touched by the unprecedented level of local support from Buckinghamshire. Over 5,200 people wrote letters of support, and well over 100 people turned up in person to the meeting today to show councillors how much they care,” Laycock stated in June.

Marlow Film Studios, designed to be built on an unused quarry, was set to feature cutting-edge facilities. Film director James Cameron himself advocated for the project, expressing interest in using the studio as a base for his Lightstorm 3D VFX company and a potential training center. In an effort to ease local concerns, the studios had committed to investing $24.5 million in local infrastructure.

The proposed complex would span 18 sound stages across 472,000 square feet, with an additional 410,000 square feet dedicated to workshops and 280,000 square feet for production offices. This 89-acre site was projected to create 4,000 jobs, including 2,000 in technical and production roles and another 2,000 in the local economy. The studios were expected to bring in $4.3 billion of new investment in film and TV production, with $1.85 billion set to be spent locally.

With the government now reviewing the appeal, the future of Marlow Film Studios is uncertain but filled with promise, as it aims to become a vital hub for the UK’s thriving film and TV industry.