Project Pinewood

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...bcnpine115.xml

Pinewood's £200m plan to rival Hollywood
By Angela Monaghan
Last Updated: 3:29pm GMT 15/11/2007

Pinewood Shepperton, the British film and television studio owner, is set for a £200m expansion which it hopes will create a rival to Hollywood in south-east England.

Pinewood plans to create a state-of-the-art facility incorporating 18 to 20 typical film set scenes such as downtown New York, a Venetian canal, a Parisien boulevard, or Lake Como in Italy.

The company hopes the variety of different 'locations' within the 100-acre site will appeal to film makers as a way of saving time and money on overseas shoots, and could be a boost to the British film industry.

"Project Pinewood will allow directors to move from Lake Como to New York in one afternoon, with all the most sophisticated equipment and specialist personnel in place and ready to use," the company said.

An aerial view of what the £200m Project Pinewood could look like

Pinewood intends to submit a planning application for Project Pinewood to be built next to the existing studios on a green belt site in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire next year.

The plans include the creation of more than 2000 new homes and other community facilities.

Work on the project has so far been funded by the company, which said it would consider the "most appropriate method of financing," should it proceed, which would include a joint venture with a property developer.

Pinewood conceded could take a long time to push through planning permission for the project, given the site is located on green belt land.

Ivan Dunleavy, chief executive of Pinewood Shepperton said: "Project Pinewood is consistent with the company's strategy, and in particular the aim to grow its media park. We expect it to become an important additional incentive to bring global customers to the UK.

"Although still in its early stages and subject to planning approvals, the project has the potential to create significant value, while minimising risks to our shareholders."

The company is now working on a masterplan for the site, designed by architect James Burland, whose work includes the Commonwealth Stadium in Manchester, now home to Manchester City Football Club.

Pinewood's studios have been used to shoot television and films for the last 70 years, including recent blockbusters The Bourne Ultimatum starring Matt Damon, Casino Royale and 28 Weeks Later.

The UK television quiz show, The Weakest Link, and comedy series My Family are also filmed at the existing studio.


An aerial view of what the £200m Project Pinewood could look like

Fly Through of the project

http://www.projectpinewood.com/inter...2&med=flv&id=2