The founder and CEO of a proposed film studio in Bucks has said the development site is 'not special'.

Robert Laycock, founder of Marlow Film Studios, said the land near the A404 Westhorpe Junction in Little Marlow is designated Green Belt land by technicality, rather than due to its ecological value.

He said: "The issue is that it's a land infill site that's by a very loud road where you can't have a conversation without raising your voice. It's not this incredibly special bit of countryside - it's technically designated Green Belt to stop undesirable things from being built there.

"I don't think any reasonable person presented with all the information would think what we're planning to do is undesirable."

Mr Laycock added that the proposed studios would be strong on biodiversity, since he is a passionate conservationist himself and owns a regenerative farm.

"As with any other circumstances, I look at the projects holistically - what are the things it does and doesn't do? You have to optimise what you've got."

However, members of local campaign group Save Marlow's Greenbelt (SMGB) said they were primarily concerned with the impact developments replacing green space would have on local communities. 

Richard Sherwin, group chairman, said: "We've gathered a large volume of complaints from residents - SMGB has been going for nearly two years now and these letters of objection, sometimes tens of pages long, highlight the people who would be impacted by having the development on their doorstep." 

The National Policy Planning Framework for developing on the Green Belt lists five core purposes of the land:

  • To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas
  • To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another
  • To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment
  • To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns
  • To assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.

Co-chairman of SMGB, Sam Kershaw said the Green Belt land around Marlow and Bourne End has scored high for upholding these purposes in surveys of designated land in Bucks.

He added: "The Green Belt was established for very good reasons - and developers are capitalising on it because it's less expensive than other sites. But this green space is important, in part because it prevents towns from merging into one urban sprawl."

Click here to view the Marlow Film Studios planning application.