Pinewood Unveils Revised Studios Expansion Proposal
Pinewood Group has revised its plans to expand its Buckinghamshire site and launched a new public consultation to discuss development options. While noting that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently called the site “the spiritual home of the British film industry,” Pinewood said proposals include additional stages and production facilities, alongside a new data center. This would use space to the south of the existing Pinewood Studios. Pinewood Group CEO David Conway said the “reduction in global content production, combined with rising construction costs and business rates,” had triggered the review of existing planning consent. The public consultation will take place on February 25-27. Along with Shepperton, Pinewood is a fable British studio, home to huge hits including Bond movies, Star Wars and Bridgerton.
Scottish TV & Film Production Handed $2.5M Government Boost
Watch on Deadline
An additional £2M ($2.5M) of government money has been earmarked to support Scottish TV and film production as Creative Scotland unveils its multi-year funding outcome. Creative Scotland, which incorporates TV and film body Screen Scotland, said a record number of cultural organizations will receive stable, year-on-year funding via the outcome, which covers the next three years. Screen Scotland, which supports local projects like Outlander and Saoirse Ronan-starring indie The Outrun, will receive an additional £2M for its Production Growth Fund in 2025/26. “This is an extremely positive moment for culture in Scotland, bringing with it a renewed sense of stability and certainty to Scotland’s culture sector,” said Creative Scotland Chair Robert Wilson. Scottish production has hit headlines of late following controversy over the lack of local people who work on The Traitors, which is set in a Scottish castle and qualifies for the BBC’s Scottish quota. The BBC Director General was put under pressure on the matter last week during a parliamentary hearing.