The UK’s central Bedfordshire Council has approved plans for a 1.75m ft2 film and TV studio following “extensive public consultation”.
Originally announced in April 2022, and with planning submitted in October of the same year, the Home Of Production has been designed by architecture firm Scott Brownrigg and aims to turn a 143 acre brownfield site into a film and TV studio.
The land has already been purchased, and financing is already in place for the plan, with original hopes that construction could begin in early 2023 or even be completed in 2024. The planning process has taken longer than expected, so the completion date may also be delayed.
Home Of Production wants to improve the experience of crew by allowing them to stay on-site in self-contained rooms and to take advantage permanent bars, cafes, restaurants, a fitness centre, and hospitality suites. The plans include a medical center, childcare facilities, and faith rooms. The studio will also have a central canal, and the buildings will have a “fabric first approach” that claims to lower operational and embodied carbon.
The plan has been supported by Sweco (Structures, Civil and MEP), McFarlane + Associates (Landscape), Lichfields (Planning), RSK Wilding (Environmental) and DLP (Transport/Highways). It is being created by developer VERB and film studio operator Quartermaster.
This story first appeared on Screen’s sister site Broadcast
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