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Another valuable high-profile objection has been submitted by a statutory consultee for the proposed film studio development.

The Environment Agency has recommended refusal of the application on two really important grounds:

1. We object to this development because the risk of pollution to controlled waters is unacceptable. The information submitted does not demonstrate that the risk can be mitigated.
2. We object to the development due to its potential impact on eutrophic standing waters and the Westhorpe Watercourse. Insufficient information has been provided to assess the risks posed by the proposal on these habitats of principal importance, and insufficient details of mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures have been submitted to address any risks identified.

You can read the full objection online.

The lakes and waterways in and around the proposed site, provide a vital lifeline to the flora and fauna reaching far and wide. They also serve us as sources of water and leisure. The risk of pollution and loss of habitats far outweighs any proposed or possible site mitigation.

Hopefully, this important agency objection will further boost the numerous objections to ensure Bucks Council make the right decision when considering the application.

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There is another reason why protecting our Greenbelt from inappropriate, irresponsible and reckless development, is so important. Not just for the environment, but for human health and well-being and the national economy.

An estimated 1.3 billion kg of air pollutants were removed by woodlands, plants, grasslands and other UK vegetation in 2015, according to a study produced for the UK Natural Capital accounts by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Based on national statistics, on average 9 people in Marlow die prematurely every year as a result of air pollution, especially as parts of Marlow are in an Air Quality Management Area.

How much pollution does 90 acres of vegetation remove?

You can calculate how much pollution is removed by vegetation in your area to the square kilometre level.

Postcode SL7 3RB gives the approximate location of the film studio: that’s just above the national average of pollutants removed per square kilometre, contributing to the approximately £15.5 million a year of healthcare savings across Buckinghamshire (in 2012 prices; this is about £20.3 million today).

Removing 90 acres of vegetation in this patch will result in a 36% reduction in pollutant removal, putting it well below the national average. And we will all pick up the tab for the increased healthcare costs. Unless you are registered in Guernsey, of course.

Object to the film studio while you can.

You may have received another flyer recently from Dido Property Limited (Guernsey), branded as Marlow Film Studio, which contains a “fact check”. It’s worthy of a fantasy film.

Here is the reality to their claims:

The jobs created will not go to locals and the benefits will not be felt in the local economy.
Dido Property Limited (Guernsey)/Marlow Film Studio is proposing a facility rental model. They will have absolutely no say on who gets hired or from where, by the renters. Facility maintenance and security jobs are likely to be outsourced to giant contractors at the cheapest rate.

There is no guarantee any traineeships for local schools, will actually get delivered. And will the traineeships be in property from the developers? They are not film makers and have never run a film studio!

The company won’t pay taxes in the UK or give back to the local community.
Dido Property Limited (Guernsey) will extract rent from companies, on which it won’t pay any UK taxes. Why would they register the property company in Guernsey, where they neither live or operate, unless to take advantage of the tax laws?

The studio will stop the Little Marlow Lakes Country Park.
Removal of 90 acres of green open space enjoyed by many, from the designated Country Park area, to create an industrial warehouse landscape will definitely impact the entire area. This land was designated for the benefit of the community. Dido Property Ltd (Guernsey) are trying to ignore the adopted Local Plan for financial gain. A mechanism and funding for delivery of the Country Park already exists.

The site will get flipped for housing once planning is granted.
If the planning application is approved, the greenbelt protection is removed and it will be open to speculative planning applications or modifications in the future (see precedents from Bray or Pinewood). The directors of Dido Property Limited (Guernsey) might decide to cash in and sell the land with planning application to a third party, who could build something quite different.

The studio will destroy wildlife and biodiversity.
The area is not ‘low-grade infill’ as described, but wildlife rich habitat supporting many priority and protected species. The developers own ecological statements confirm this, as well as indicate that net gain biodiversity cannot be achieved on site. They have not detailed where the mitigation will be delivered, so most likely they plan to pay money into an off-setting habitat bank – not an acceptable practice, as local populations will simply die.

There will be thousands of extra car and HGV movements on the A404.
The Transport Assessment in the planning application details the thousands of extra vehicle movements. National Highways have objected to the development for good reason. It’s pie in the sky thinking, to expect 40% to use public transport, when less than 2% do so at Pinewood. Once the planned bus service is demonstrated to be unviable, it will be stopped too.

Conclusion: object to the PR smoke and mirrors

The portal is seemingly still accepting responses, so please object and spread the word among friends and family to do the same.

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.