Landscape and environmental planners Gillespies unveil design for Marlow Film Studios, a major new centre for British filmmaking
- Integrated green infrastructure to enhance the low grade-landfill site
- Biodiversity to be enhanced by interlinked habitats
- Walking routes and recreational trails for local residents
Gillespies, the landscape architects and environmental planners behind significant British developments such as the landmark Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street in London, Television Centre in Hammersmith and Google’s new Headquarters in King’s Cross, have stewarded the environment and landscape planning for Marlow Film Studios, a new 21st century film studio in Buckinghamshire.
An outstanding team of British designers are behind plans for the 167,800 square metre production facility including master planners Prior & Partners and RIBA sterling prize winning architects WilkinsonEyre. In response to the ambition for a site which reflects the surrounding landscape with beautiful open spaces and discrete security, Gillespies’ designs have created the appearance of organic growth in the townscape tradition.
Gillespies led an evidence-based assessment of the sensitivity and capacity of the site in Buckinghamshire for the new studio, while also minimising the effects on the surrounding landscapes. Gillespies’ landscape and visual impact assessment and strategy sensitively integrates the development into its surroundings and maximises biodiversity net gain through the use of interlinked new habitats including screen planting, extensive green roofs, and a network of planted swales and native trees within the studio campus.
The site’s integrated green infrastructure strategy, is set to enhance the site’s ecological value given its current status of low-grade landfill. From rainwater harvesting to native species, the strategy protects existing, adjacent, and on-site habitats and enhances recreational value of the green space including enhanced pedestrian and cycle connections to surrounding area and new lakeside walks, as part of the industry leading campus design. Enhanced public connections with a series of new private green spaces will support the operational and security needs of the Studio whilst creating a distinctive and original set of spaces for staff and visitors. Marlow Film Studios has also set its own bespoke target to reach +20% net gain, ahead of national and local policy.
Sheena Bell, Associate Partner at Gillespies, said: “We are delighted to be part of an incredible team designing a world-class film studio which puts landscape and biodiversity at the heart of the masterplan and enhances the recreational network in the area.”
Robert Laycock, Founder and CEO at Marlow Film Studios said: “Assembling an exceptionally capable team of creatives to help deliver this leading facility and putting sustainability and biodiversity at the heart of our proposal is what is so original. As part of the plans, more than 22 acres of the site is going to be available for recreation and wildlife, securing benefits for the longer term, and enhancing the recreational networks in the area. The design of the buildings, the energy strategy, the role of landscape and biodiversity as an integral element of the masterplan, have all been planned to deliver a genuinely cutting-edge, sustainable filmmaking purpose-built campus.”
To enable the low carbon, sustainable production of films, all buildings have been designed to put sustainability first and minimise energy demand, using low carbon and renewable energy supplies. The proposal promotes the use of active mobility by providing services for a direct connection via new public transport to the Elizabeth line and provision of electric charging infrastructure not just within the studio but also more widely in the community. Innovative strategies in terms of energy, water management and construction methods will provide resilience to future impacts of climate change and changes in behavioural patterns.
Notes to editors
The Marlow Film Studios planning submission was validated on 21 June 2022. The submission follows 10 months of pre-application consultation where the team behind the studios exhibited its plans, consulted with local groups, and gave community the chance to feedback on its proposals digitally and in person. As part of the application process, Marlow Film Studios recently announced a series of surgeries to be held at Marlow Library to continue answering members of the public’s questions. Full details are available on www.marlow.film.
