Expansion plans revealed for Shepperton Studios

Shepperton Studios just outside London is set to expand with new details revealed about the size of the project.

The studio has lodged a planning application with the local council for a £500m private sector redevelopment that would see an increase in stage space and related support facilities of around 465,000 sq ft.

The size of the project means Shepperton would be on a par with its sister facility Pinewood Studios, which is also currently undergoing expansion plans.

The Shepperton development could generate more than 1,500 permanent local jobs with 837 jobs per year being created during the construction phase. A total of 2,796 jobs could be created and sustained overall.

The studio regularly houses high-profile films with recent features including The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, Mary Poppins Returns and Christopher Robin.

Andrew M Smith, director of Shepperton Studios, said: “The UK is currently missing out on a significant number of international films because of a shortage of sound stages.

“The British Film Institute and British Film Commission have been calling for more stage space to reverse this trend and the increased capacity proposed at Shepperton Studios will meet head-on the need for additional purpose-built sound stages to accommodate blockbuster-sized movies.”