Sky’s plan for huge expansion of new Elstree Studios gets green light from government

Plans to expand Sky’s new Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire have been given the green light by the government after they were refused permission by the local council last spring.

Hertsmere borough council voted to reject the 38 acre expansion, against the advice of planning officers which had recommended approval ahead of the meeting last March. Councillors said they were concerned by the loss of green belt land.

However, the 15ha site has since been redefined as grey belt land following the introduction of the new land class in last year’s update to the National Planning Policy Framework. Grey belt land is defined as areas of the green belt which do not strongly contribute to key green belt purposes, including the prevention of urban sprawl, and has less restrictions on development.

The scheme went to an appeal following the council’s refusal with a public inquiry opening in March this year before the planning inspector recommended it for approval.

Yesterday, housing secretary Matthew Pennycook took the decision on behalf of his boss, housing, communities and local government secretary of state Steve Reed, to grant the scheme approval.

His 110-page letter said Reed agreed with the conclusion of Sky, Hertsmere council and Green Fields not Grey Studios - a campaign group set up to fight the proposals - that the site comprises grey belt land.

The job was first submitted for planning in August 2022 and the proposed expansion, designed by UMC Architects for Sky Studios Ltd and Legal and General’s investment arm, will see the construction of nearly 72,000sq m of production space in eight buildings housing 10 new sound stages.

The project team includes Potter Raper on costs and project management, Hoare Lea on services, fire, lighting and acoustics, Lichfields on planning, Pell Frischmann on transport and Fairhurst as structural and civil engineer. Bradley Murphy Design is landscape architect.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves hailed the decision as a victory for the government’s pledge to cut planning red tape.

She added: “By cutting unnecessary red tape and transforming the planning system, we are getting Britain building and bringing in private investment to build an economy that rewards working people. This expansion is a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s world-leading film and TV sector.”

Sky had previously argued that the expansion would create 2,000 jobs and generate £2bn of production investment over the first five years of operation.

The existing studio’s 14 sound studios have previously hosted production teams working on Wicked, starring Ariana Grande, and Paddington in Peru.

The existing studios were completed in late 2022 by Bam, which beat Lendlease and VolkerFitzpatrick to win the £190m job in 2020.

Last week, plans by UMC Architects to redevelop around half of the BBC’s Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire were given the green light by Hertsmere council.

French investment manager Axa IM Alts is behind the proposals which will see the site’s studio stage space more than quadrupled to around 100,000sq ft across five new sound stages.