News

Dido Property Limited (Guernsey) claim there is no other “preferable site where the benefits that will flow from the development can be secured.“

From our desktop study, we have identified other alternatives that are still suitable according to the criteria proposed by the developers.

We already talked about the Stonor Film Studios. Here we look at the land near English Farm in Nuffield, Oxfordshire, located within easy reach (close to the proposed magic 30 miles) of the West London film cluster. It is owned by one of the directors of Dido Property Limited (Guernsey), namely Robert Laycock.

The area is not designated as a Country Park or does not fall within the Greenbelt. This alternative site “is considered to be of medium/low landscape value furthermore it is considered that the Site has a low susceptibility to the proposed change brought about by the proposed scheme.“

In terms of access, we believe that “with [a] robust Sustainable Transport Strategy in place that the impact (…) would be manageable” on the A4130. “The mean maximum queues would be well accommodated” by other nearby roads.

Why was English Farm not considered as an alternative site for the film studio project? Is it because one of the directors lives there?

We don’t need a film studio on our doorstep either. Object to it now.

Dido Property Limited (Guernsey) claim there is no other “preferable site where the benefits that will flow from the development can be secured.“

From our desktop study, we have identified other alternatives that are still available according to the criteria proposed by the developers themselves.

The first one is the land at Stonor, located within easy reach (close to the proposed magic 30 miles) of the West London film cluster. It is owned by the family of one of the directors of Dido Property Limited (Guernsey), namely William Stonor.

The area is not designated as a Country Park or does not fall within the London Greenbelt. It appears to be kept as a private “deer park”.

Situating the Stonor Film Studio here, will “enhanc(e) the economic strength of the area and mak(e) it a better place to live, work and visit.” Given the relatively small impact of the film studio on the overall land area available in Stonor Park, “it is not considered that there is any loss of designated outdoor recreation space or (…) Park.“

Why was Stonor not considered as an alternative site for the film studio project? Is it because one of the directors lives there?

We don’t need a film studio on our doorstep either. Object to it now.

Let’s ignore the increase in traffic, pollution and the loss of biodiversity and green breathing space. You might think that the Film Studio buildings will blend into the surroundings, but tall grey sound studios will be visible far and wide.

How far? From the whole of Marlow, Bourne End and surroundings:

You can study the visibility map for yourself in detail on HeyWhatsThat.

It is not too late – object now.

Back in April, we published a post explaining what we think the Marlow Film Studio buildings would actually look like, based on actual other film studios.

Yes, it looks like a warehouse

Now that the planning application is live, the PR mask has been stripped off and the truth has been revealed:

No more shiny or green – just grey warehouses up to 25 m tall. As we expected.

Yes, there will be a fence

You may have seen the “open plan” approach in the marketing material of the film studio project, but that mask has fallen off too.

In the Security Needs Assessment document, it states:
“The minimum security fence recommendation is 2.4m with the ideal being 3m to increase the level of delay. (…) Fencing should be either palisade or weld mesh affixed with security bolts. (…) Fences should have the option to be opaque to restrict direct views into the studio areas.”

In addition, there is talk of CCTV, intrusion detection radar, drone detection and cutting back trees to avoid overhangs for climbing.

This means that our comparison to other film studios, such as Shinfield and Pinewood, who all have fences, was and is correct. Marlow Film Studios won’t be different – it will look like the other film studios: warehouses with fencing around them.

Don’t let these monstrosities dominate our skyline – stop the development and object now.

We have published our guide on how to object with some suggested arguments online. Go to https://savemarlowsgreenbelt.org/object/ to find out more.

Numbers matter: please submit a separate objection from all members of your household.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

In order to give more weight to Save Marlow’s Greenbelt official objections, we need to show that we have the support of the public.

One way to do this is to give us a mandate. It is very simple: fill in this form (and ask others in your household to do the same) and upload it via this form.

If you have any issues, please email contact@savemarlowsgreenbelt.org.

Thank you for your support.

Edit: you can use PDF Wrench online or Acrobat DC’s Fill & Sign to complete the documents digitally.

With the planning application now live, after over a year of publicity aimed at gaining support for the Marlow Film Studio project, you may well have some questions for the developers, Dido Property Ltd (Guernsey).

They have planned some drop-in sessions where you can do just that. Ask pertinent questions, scrutinise the plans and listen to their claims from their hired representatives.

We encourage you do this whilst bearing in mind, that they have an agenda that they want to carefully control. They stand to make a huge financial gain if their controversial project is approved.

For a balanced view from local volunteers, who have lived in the Marlow area for many years, understand our town, our community, the local infrastructure challenges and the benefit this protected site provides for people and wildlife, ask questions from the Save Marlow’s Greenbelt team. We have no hidden agenda and nothing to gain. We are just protecting our Greenbelt and Country Park, in line with local and national planning policy, for our community now and for the future.

Donate now to help us deliver our message & hire experts to fight the planning application threats.

A new Local Plan for Buckinghamshire is being drafted. It will set out which areas are earmarked for development and which are protected. It is heartening to see that the Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Tett has clarified that “Brown before Green” will be the policy.

We hope his Councillors remember this when deciding the fate of Marlow’s Greenbelt when they consider the controversial Marlow Film Studio Project, now live on the portal to view.

Write to your county councillors and your MP, to ensure they are aware and on board – and protect our Greenbelt.

The Marlow Film Studio planning application has appeared on Buckinghamshire’s planning portal with reference number 22/06443/FULEA. Our volunteers and hired experts are currently scanning through the 400(!) documents. We are also aware that there is an administrative issue with the application, so we are awaiting Buckinghamshire Council’s response to that.

We will issue detailed guidance on how to object, with our suggested top reasons to object as soon as we can.

On 26th May, we invited Dido Property Limited (Guernsey) to a public debate. We eventually received a response to our open letter. In essence, they have declined the invitation and refused to engage in a public debate to answer public questions. Their consultations have not provided enough information and are misleading in parts. Questions posed and clarifications sought remain unanswered.

Save Marlow’s Greenbelt is obviously disappointed with this decision and the refusal to debate openly and fairly with the public.