Stage Fifty plans ’boutique’ film studio at High Wycombe

The shooting of a Hollywood film later this year could transform a few fields in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, into a new studio complex. Stage Fifty has submitted temporary planning to allow the filming of the unnamed blockbuster to take place, and now has plans for a permanent eight-stage “boutique” studio on the site. The 295,000 sq ft Wycombe Film Studios development would transform the 26-acre site off the M40 into “a class-leading sustainable film studio perfect for moviemakers and global streamers,” it said. Stage Fifty chief executive James Enright said: “We have been working behind the scenes for two years to ensure we have everything in place to build a world-class film studio with all the elements for success.” A temporary approval already granted will allow one stage to be built, and Stage Fifty has already submitted further applications for three more stages and workshops to support the shooting later this year. Enright said he would apply for full planning permission to create the long-term permanent studio in the coming months. “Stage Fifty creates sustainable studios, and together with our partners, we have developed new technologies and innovative ways to build greener and more quickly than our competitors,” he added. The High Wycombe studio will be its third site in the UK, after Farnborough and Winnersh. The site was allocated as a strategic employment area in the Local Plan for Wycombe District, with the adjacent Air Park remaining in situ. Neil Seager, partner at Haslams Chartered Surveyors, said: “After advising Stage Fifty on their acquisition of Winnersh Film Studios, I am delighted to be advising them again on Wycombe Film Studios. There remains insatiable demand from producers for studio space for streaming content and blockbuster movies. “From a property perspective, the sector remains in its infancy. I predict it will mature into a sub-sector of the alternative property investment market initially by way of predominantly direct investment and in time indirect via dedicated creative arts funds.” The sustainable studio’s eco plans include solar roofs for clean energy and recycled soundproofing inside the stages. The modular aluminium and steel structure will ensure that the stages are durable and robust, while the demountable design offers a more sustainable way to build as 90% of the construction materials are reusable. Green spaces will be maximised across the site, with vertical garden walls on the stages to help purify the air and provide a haven for local wildlife. A phased build is planned over the next 18 months, subject to planning.   To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews Images from Stage Fifty