Chamber of Commerce hosts Marlow Studios
Members of the local community engagement team at Marlow Studios were hosted by the Marlow Chamber of Commerce at a special event last night (7th May). The purpose was to explain the next steps in the development programme and offer a chance for many local business leaders to ask questions. The meeting also discussed potential opportunities to local businesses both from within the creative sector and more widely.

This follows the acquisition of the nearby Marlow International building by the Studios in March to serve as the early HQ for this landmark project. This gives the Studios an immediate footprint in Marlow, and a base for its expanding team. It also offers space for inbound productions requiring office and pre-production space.

The talk and Q&A session with the Chamber was hosted at Marlow’s Crowne Plaza hotel, and was well attended, with questions focusing on job opportunities for those working in the local creative sector, the business case for the studios, the importance of tech skills, the need for engagement with schools and colleges and the potential impact of AI on the industry.

Richard Meredith, director of communications and community engagement at Marlow Studios, said:

“The £1bn investment in Marlow Studios will be transformative for the community and local business. We want to ensure that the impact of the construction process on Marlow and the local environment is managed and minimised and we will keep the community informed of anything that might impact on daily lives. As part of this, we will be engaging with all local community groups to hear their viewpoints. Local businesses, represented by the Chamber of Commerce, will be particularly valued partners.

In the longer term, we believe the Studios will create tangible long-term growth for all kinds of businesses around Marlow – both those directly involved in film and TV and the creative sector, as well as those other businesses across the area, from hospitality to transportation. For our young people, this means jobs and careers in the local area. For the UK it means a £1bn vote of confidence in our creative sector.”


Peter Evans, President of Marlow Chamber of Commerce, said:

“It is vitally important for the business community of Marlow to engage with Marlow Studio representatives. The purpose of this meeting was to share information and answer some of the key questions that Chamber members have at this stage. Information is the key otherwise speculation takes over.

“We acknowledge that not everyone supports the planned development, but the project has been given the go ahead and we need to ensure our members and the local business community are kept up to date.

“The potential benefits for local business are immense, and by holding joint meetings at each stage of the project we can work to ensure opportunities are identified and concerns addressed for the benefit of the Marlow Business community and Marlow as a whole.”
Chamber Of Commerce Hosts Marlow Studios
Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Marlow Film Studios (ref: 22/06443/FULEA).

I am writing in support of the application for Marlow Film Studios, a film studio planned on former landfill next to the A404, within the parish of Little Marlow.

I was really encouraged to read of the latest polling across Bucks showing overwhelming support for the project and for the jobs and economic development that come with it. The opinions of residents across Bucks matters, particularly those who live and work close to the Studio site.

This is a decision that Bucks councillors should be making on behalf our children, and their future. This is a decision about providing them with greater opportunity and wider chances. The next generation urgently need opportunities for careers that keep them within Bucks and allow our towns and villages to flourish as homes for all ages.

Providing sustainable jobs and careers is vital for the long-term prosperity of any community. The growth of the British film industry over recent years has been extraordinary and its future growth is backed by all the political parties. Marlow Film Studios intends to be the future centre for British filmmaking. The fact that we have an industry of this global standing planning to build studios in our county is something we should be proud of. Many of today’s young people want to work in the creative sector.

I am particularly excited at the possibilities it provides for our disadvantaged communities. For local people, the Studios will also be close to one of the more culturally diverse parts of Buckinghamshire. The Studios’ partnerships with institutions such as Buckinghamshire College Group will provide access points to the creative economy for an under-represented diverse community as part of Wycombe’s regeneration challenge.

I understand that all new developments present challenges. But I believe that considerable efforts are being made to manage these. I am pleased to note the financing of the road traffic improvements on the Westhorpe roundabout, the provision of new bus routes, the care being put into providing accessible parkland for residents and a biodiverse environment.

The Studios are being built on a former gravel pit, on land that is no longer suitable for agriculture use. I understand that any decision on Green Belt land needs to illustrate clear benefits to the community that outweigh the impact. Overall, I believe the strong benefits robustly and significantly outweigh the negative considerations, and so I strongly support the planning application.
What will happen to your details: When you click “send” on this form, you will be added to our campaign and we will generate the a letter of support in the form linked above in your name for the Marlow Film Studios planning application. We will share this letter with Buckinghamshire Council councillors and officers, Buckinghamshire Parish Council councillors, Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), and Members of Parliament. These organisations may upload this letter publicly on their planning portals and/or website and will adhere with their Privacy Policies. In particular, we are requesting that Buckinghamshire Council upload these letters to their Public Access website for our application. Any processing of data by Buckinghamshire Council will be in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

You may also submit comments or letters of support directly on the Public Access website.