Pinewood Studios cut back expansion plans (From Bucks Free Press)

Pinewood Studios cut back expansion plans

2:45pm Tuesday 16th September 2008 in Local Video News By Francine Wolfisz

PLANS for Project Pinewood have been drastically altered after studio executives reacted to residents’ fears.

The proposed expansion of the renowned film studio in Iver Heath now includes plans for the construction of 1,500 homes, down from the original figure of 2,225.

The green belt area around Pinewood has also been taken into consideration, with 30 hectares of the 44 hectare site remaining as open space and protection of the wooded area known as the “Clump”.

Estimated at £200 million, the project will also see the creation of permanent streetscapes representing New York, Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, San Francisco and Prague.

Click the link above to watch exclusive footage of what the streetscapes could look like

As a result of retaining the green belt land, both the Paris and New York districts will built to five stories, higher than originally envisaged, but equal in height to the James Bond stage.

Andrew Smith, group director of corporate affairs, said the changes to the proposals were a direct result of recent consultations with residents and industry experts.

Mr Smith said: “We have listened to representations from the community and we are now proposing to use about 32% of the land, instead of 100%. We’ve always had a good relationship with the community and we want to maintain that.”

He added: “Pinewood is looking to be the creative hub of the UK, if not Europe. We have to keep ahead of the game and we believe this is in the national interest to do this.”

Residents can view the revised proposals and leave comments at a community consultation taking place this week at Pinewood Studios.

The consultation is open Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19, 2pm to 8pm; and Saturday, September 20, 10pm to 4pm, at Pinewood Studios, D Stage, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath. Details: www.projectpinewood.com