Source: Local Economies (UK)
Author: Matthew Corrigan
Date published: 2025-09-23
[original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end]
Following the news that investment company AXA IM Alts has been given the green light to redevelop the former BBC Elstree Centre, Sky has revealed it has been granted approval for the expansion of Sky Studios Elstree.
Plans to allow a further 10 stages to the existing complex have been approved, paving the way for production investment of £2 billion in what the company said was a “major boost for UK economic growth”. Financed via a partnership with Legal & General (L&G), the proposals allow the Borehamwood complex to grow to 22 stages, providing a total of 470,000 sq ft of space for filming across the 65 acre site.
Opened in 2022, Sky Studios Elstree has hosted a range of hit TV and film productions including Wicked, Paddington in Peru, and Jurassic World: Rebirth. The site is also home to Sky Originals. The company said it expects the development will lead to the creation of 2,000 jobs within the first five years of its operation.
Commenting on the approval, Dana Strong, group CEO, Sky, said, “The UK’s media and entertainment sector is a global powerhouse, and the expansion of Sky Studios Elstree will elevate it even further, creating thousands of jobs and opening doors for the next generation of British talent. With the government’s continued support through business rates relief and film and TV tax incentives, our creative economy is poised to be a driving force of UK growth.”
Adrian Wootton OBE, CEO, British Film Commission, added, “Sky Studios Elstree’s expansion is a significant moment for the UK’s creative industries. Investment of this scale creates thousands of new jobs, supports a depth of talent and keeps our film and TV sector at the cutting edge of global entertainment. Inward investment film and HETV production was worth almost £5bn to the UK in 2024. We anticipate an even higher level of investment in 2025, but having the right mix of studio space is vital if we’re to build on such success in the face of intensifying global competition. As we collectively look to drive greater growth in the UK, we should be making every effort to support projects like Sky Studios Elstree North, for its local, national and international advantages.”
Under the proposals, the local area will benefit from £6.5 million in funding to improve local roads and transport links, a new community green and the safeguarding of 27 acres off nearby land to protect wildlife and habitats for the next 30 years.
The development will feature solar panels on every rooftop, LED lighting and a fully-electric vehicle fleet with the project aiming to meet ambitious studio sustainability standards.
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