MBS Pinewood gets consent to convert Aylesbury warehouse

MBS Pinewood’s proposals to change the use of a 109,996 sq ft storage unit and warehouse at Symmetry Park in Aylesbury to enable film making have been approved. The building, which is less than an hour from Pinewood Studios and the National Film and Television School, will be divided up internally into individual sets for filming. These sets will then be available to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The space will also include offices and areas for make-up and wardrobe. Buckinghamshire Council’s planning officer said the change of use would generate employment that would contribute to the local and national economy. It is anticipated that between 150 and 300 on-site working crew would be at the property. The council also gave permission for the property to retain its B8 use class so that it could revert to warehouse and storage use in the future. Demand for space to film new TV shows and films is at an all-time high in the UK after lockdown meant most studios in the country had to temporarily halt productions. The change of use for the warehouse at Symmetry Park is the latest in a line of film and TV-related schemes to obtain planning consent. Earlier this month L&G and Sky achieved planning approval to build a 32-acre TV and film studio at Elstree in Hertfordshire, while in April U+I and Quinn Estates received planning to create film studios alongside 300 new homes and a 120-bed hotel in Ashford, Kent. To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette