Boris Johnson has thrown his weight behind a £200 million expansion plan for Pinewood Studios, saying they are crucial to stopping film work being lost overseas.
The Mayor wrote to a planning inquiry that starts today at the Buckinghamshire site, where James Bond films and blockbusters including Les Misérables and Pirates Of The Caribbean have been made.
He said world-class studios were essential to maximise the potential of new tax breaks aimed at encouraging the British TV and film industry. He added: “If we get it right, we could soon be seeing a golden age of film and TV production.”
Pinewood’s plans include new studios, stages and streetscapes.
South Buckinghamshire district council has twice rejected the scheme, saying it would be an “inappropriate” incursion into green belt land.
