SMG is delighted for our friends in Holyport that the Secretary of State has decided to refuse the planning appeal for Holyport Studios.
There are many similarities between the Holyport proposal and that of Marlow Film Studios. Both are on Green Belt land, and both would cause significant harm to the environment and to the local community. Furthermore, both developers claim that there is a need for more studios and that the associated economic benefits would outweigh these harms.
SMG provided strong evidence at the Marlow Film Studios inquiry to demonstrate that there is no clear or pressing need for more studios and that the economic benefits would be insignificant.
We are therefore greatly encouraged by the Secretary of State’s consideration of these matters in the Holyport appeal.
Paragraph 24 of the report states:
“… she considers that the evidence indicates that there is likely to be sufficient capacity within existing studio space and commitments for the immediate future, even focussed within the W[est] L[ondon] C[luster] and a widened geography around London.”
And paragraph 26 states:
“Overall, like the Inspector, the Secretary of State is not persuaded that a clear and convincing need case has been demonstrated. She therefore does not assign weight to this matter.”
Consequently, we are hopeful that the Secretary of State will reach the same conclusion about Marlow Film Studios and refuse it.