Buckinghamshire residents whose homes border the proposed Marlow Film Studios have spoken out against the development which they say will 'destroy their quality of life forever'. 

The Marlow Film Studios planning proposal, on which a council verdict was recently deferred until March 2024, puts forward the construction of a 36-hectare production facility on Greenbelt land near the A404 in Little Marlow. 

While the focus around the project has centrally been on concerns around its highways and environmental impact, as was the case during a Strategic Sites Committee meeting on Monday (October 23), Little Marlow residents have also spoken out against the development, which they believe will severely impact their quality of life.

Joy Morrissey MP visited the homes of residents at Westhorpe Park, an estate that borders the proposed studio site, earlier this month where she heard about the impact Marlow Film Studios could have on their day-to-day lives and well-being.

One resident said: "It rarely gets mentioned that there are over 70 households living in this beautiful, peaceful and quiet area. The plans show that we will be completely surrounded by a huge, noisy, high-security film studio operating 24/7.

"Our quality of life will be destroyed forever."

While the studio developers have carried out Public Consultations and Neighbourhood Forums, many Westhorpe residents feel that their concerns have been largely ignored - something Ms Morrissey said has been exacerbated by the deferment of a Buckinghamshire Council decision on the project on Monday.

She said: "I am proud of the work that the residents in Little Marlow have done in fighting this hugely inappropriate development. My priority continues to be protecting the green spaces across the constituency and in Little Marlow. 

"These green spaces are the very reason many of us have chosen to call this place our home. Once they are lost, we can never get them back."

The MP previously drew attention to the vulnerable and elderly status of many residents in the Westhorpe part of Marlow, who as a result had been unable to attend public meetings.

READ MORE: 'Anxiety and frustration': Reactions to delay of Marlow Film Studios decision

A spokesperson for Marlow Film Studios said: "Throughout the last two-and-a-half years and well before the planning application was submitted, we have engaged extensively with the local community in order to inform our final designs.

“This included four exhibitions within a shop in Marlow High Street where anyone could drop in and ask questions, as well as running a community liaison group which has met eight times, a close neighbours forum, and having door-to-door conversations.

“We have attended local parish council meetings and held our door open, offering to meet with community groups locally to discuss the proposal and answer any questions. We remain available and welcome all conversations. Please get in touch at info@marlow.film.”

Studio developers were dealt a fresh blow this morning (October 25) when the governmental body Natural England issued a formal objection to the project on the grounds of its potential impact on the Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation. 

Voices who have previously expressed their support for Marlow Film Studios include 'Skyfall' director Sam Mendes, who lives in Turville and said he believed the project was "exactly what the industry and economy need right now".

Councillors voted on Monday to defer the committee's decision on the proposed development until spring 2024. The motion was passed six to five, with the deciding vote cast by chairman Cllr Alan Turner after he admitted that he "didn't feel ready to make a sound decision" and believed deferment to be "the safest route".