UK Government Reviewing Decision To Refuse Planning Permission For James Cameron-Backed $950M Film Studio

An appeal against the refusal to give planning permission to a James Cameron-backed £750M ($950M) UK film studio has reached the UK government.

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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who is this evening attending the opening of the London Film Festival (LFF), has in the past few minutes confirmed that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government received the Marlow Film Studios appeal and will now review “the planning merits of the proposal… before reaching a decision.”

The Buckinghamshire studio was denied planning permission on a controversial development, due in part to concerns from campaign groups about the local quarry area. According to local newspaper the Bucks Free Press, the leader of Marlow Town Council had previously said he and fellow members were “taking legal advice” after receiving “libellous abuse” for their perceived support of the project. Titanic auteur Cameron had supported the project and floated it as a potential base and training center for Lightstorm3D, a company he set up to develop tools and tech for movies.

The news comes just a day after Pinewood set out plans to launch a dedicated production hub to support filmmakers taking advantage of the UK government’s new indie film relief. A separate studio in the Isle of Wight, which is backed by Independent Talent Group founder Duncan Heath, has also just been given the go-ahead.

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Nandy will attend the opening of LFF tonight, which will kick off with Steve McQueen’s Blitz.

Confirming the introduction of the tax relief in the hours before the premiere, she also committed to working with Skills England to fill 25,000 job vacancies in the creative industries.

“While major film production has flourished, smaller budget independent films have not received sufficient support over the last decade,” said Nandy. “They face multiple challenges – rising production costs, crew shortages, and declining revenues which have hampered the growth of this vital part of the sector.”

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