Plans to build film studio near Maidenhead village submitted

Jan 3, 2023

The small village of Holyport in Maidenhead could see a bit of Hollywood built next to it as a developer submits plans to build film and TV studios.

Earlier this year, Greystoke Land was consulting with residents of Holyport in Maidenhead about proposals to build sound stages, ancillary workshops, production support spaces, and offices on a piece of green belt land.

They say this “rare and fantastic opportunity” will help make the Royal Borough a leading centre of exceptional film and TV production. It could also create 1,500 full-time jobs, provide local jobs and apprenticeships, and contribute to the local and national economy.

The 43.15-hectare site along Gay’s Lane, which is not far from the historic Bray Studios, is proposed to be split into three sites.

Sites A and B will host the sound stages, workshops, and offices, which will allow multiple film and TV productions to be shot on the same day and time. Dubbed the ‘media village,’ it also includes a virtual reality studio that offers CGI creation, augmented and virtual reality, gaming, and more.

An open-air area available for filming, known as a ‘backlot’ is located on site C.

To the north of site C, Greystoke Land is also proposing to make a 16.9-hectare piece of greenbelt land into a nature and wildlife reserve with a public park and a cricket ground.

A new access and roundabout could be created on Forest Green Road and a 3.5-storey decked car park that holds 420 staff vehicles are also included in the plans. A free shuttle bus between the studios is also proposed.

The developer has only submitted outline plans for access to be considered only where another application will be submitted at a later stage.