The expansion of Shepperton Studios in the UK is taking shape with its owner, Pinewood Studios Group, now consulting with the local community about paving the way for a planning application. This exclusive update from Variety.com….
With studio space in the U.K. in high demand, Pinewood wants to grow the Shepperton site, creating more space for big-ticket movies and high end TV. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Mary Poppins Returns are two recent movies that used Shepperton, which has a long history and was also used for Dr. Strangelove and Alien among others.
Work is already underway at Pinewood Studios itself as part of a $276 million expansion plan. A full planning application for Shepperton is likely within weeks. Whether it is approved will be decided by authorities, but if there are no major objections and a green light is forthcoming, that could be granted by year-end.
Pinewood has acquired a large chunk of land adjacent to the existing Shepperton, as first reported by Variety in February. It wants to build new sound stages, offices, workshops, and backlots to the Shepperton site. It currently spans 14 sound stages and a backlot on a 600,000 square feet, 25 acre site. Pinewood, which was acquired by private equity group Aermont in 2016, acquired an adjacent lot four times that size.
“Shepperton Studios plays an important role in the successful UK film and television industry,” said Shepperton’s Andrew Smith. “The Studios attract major and independent production companies from around the world to shoot in the UK.”
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