Skip to main content

INTERVIEW-Pinewood CEO pushes ahead with bid for UK expansion

British film production company Pinewood Shepperton is to go to the national government with its bid to double the size of its main studio, the home of James Bond, after local authorities rejected its expansion plans twice.

Ivan Dunleavy, chief executive of Pinewood which is Europe's largest film studio, said it was disappointing the local council rejected its 200 million pound ($300 million) plan for a second time last week as it needed more capacity to meet rising demand.

 

Dunleavy said the company was yet to make a formal announcement on any appeal after the plan to boost the capacity of its studio on protected "green belt" land about 20 miles (32 km) west of central London was rejected again.

But asked by Reuters if this was likely he said: "I would have thought so."

The 15-year project would have involved building studios, stages and streetscapes at the Iver Heath site but South Buckinghamshire Council rejected the plans as "inappropriate" expansion into green belt land encircling London.

Dunleavy said the next step was to go to the national government which would have happened anyway if the local authority had given the green light as higher level approval was always needed for any change to green belt status.

"So that is the process we will work on and we will keep going," Dunleavy told Reuters in an interview on a yacht moored in Cannes where the world's largest film festival is underway.

"The government policy is to grow the creative sector as a whole and the fact we are coming forward to work on land we own, and put in private investment and create jobs, we think those are the right kind of factors that will hopefully make a national decision go in our favour."

A more ambitious version of the planning application called "Project Pinewood", which included the building of 1,400 new homes, was rejected last year, after a vociferous "Stop Project Pinewood" campaign by local residents.

The studios, home to more than 1,500 movies over 76 years, were used to film 23 of 25 James Bond films including the latest hit "Skyfall", as well as Oscar-nominated "Les Miserables".

Dunleavy said the UK was a popular place currently for big budget film production because of its skills, its creativity, its fiscal regime and positive exchange rates.

"With government policy seeking to incentivise high end television with tax credits, that might pump up the demand for production capacity by about 30 percent so we were are very keen to press on with this," he said.

The bid to expand in the UK comes as Pinewood is on an international expansion drive, last month announcing partnerships in both China and the United States.

Pinewood already owns studios in Canada and Germany and is building facilities in Malaysia and the Dominican Republic.

"If you look at the places we have gone to, we are being very strategic and we are trying to appeal to new markets," said Dunleavy.

"In each case, while we would be very happy to see big budget films going into one of those studios, it is more about the regional market there ... which are growing quite strongly." (Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith; Editing by Mark Potter)

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o