Planning application got in for Bray studios expansion
A public consultation asking for views on the plans to modernise Bray Film Studios ended in May
Streaming giant Amazon has submitted its plans for the expansion of Bray Film Studios to create ‘a world class studio blending function and desirability’.
The historic Water Oakley site was previously home to Hammer Films and was where some of its most iconic horror movies were filmed, including The Mummy and The Curse of Frankenstein.
The studios were also used for films including the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Alien, but production began to decline in the 90s and 2000s and the site was nearly converted into housing.
However, a UK film and television production boom in the past decade has seen the studios brought back into use for major productions such as Sir Elton John biopic Rocketman and, in 2022, the previous owner of Bray Film Studios got the go-ahead from the Royal Borough to revamp the site.
In 2024, Amazon MGM bought the historic site to film some of its biggest shows and now has its own revised plan to expand.
The streaming giant has been using the site for filming since 2022, where it produced the Lord of the Rings spin off, The Rings of Power and the second series of Citadel.
The official expansion proposal was submitted to the Royal Borough on Tuesday (July 14) and promises to create ‘a world-class studio blending function and desirability’.
The scheme seeks permission to create a new film studio campus that will transform the studios and provide ‘the necessary stability to support significant investment’.
The revamp will ‘secure the long-term future’ of the studios and bring social and economic benefits to the Royal Borough, a planning statement said.
World-class
Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said: “With Bray as our creative home in the UK, we are committed to deepening our relationships with the UK creative community, which is rich with world-class storytellers and creative talent of all kinds.”
Jobs
The expansion would create 470 jobs during the construction phase locally, and 920 in Berkshire, the applicant said.
It would also bring around £40.9million to the Royal Borough’s local economy during the construction period.
The expansion of the studios would see the creation of four workshop buildings which give ‘essential support’ for the stages and production offices within the wider site.
Six new sound stages would be built and six other temporary sound stages that are already on site would become permanent.
The previous expansion plans for the studio looked to convert Down Place House – a Grade II-listed building – into a home.
But Amazon MGM wants to instead refurbish the building and use it as a key production office, including a gathering space.
The plans set out a vision where nature and the ‘prestige of the historic setting’ of the studios coexist seamlessly with state-of-the-art studio facilities.
There are various residential homes at the location – Waterford House, Water Oakley Farmhouse, Water Oakley Cottages and Steadings – which have been repurposed for filming purposes.
These would be demolished as part of the proposals.
Once the expansion is finalised, Amazon MGM wants to be able to film two productions at the same time – two films or two series – with approximately 20,000sqm of total stage space planned.
When it comes to parking, a multi-storey car park offering 936 and 250 cycle spaces would be built, including EV charging points and blue badge bays.
On the ground floor of the car park, a cafe open to both employees, visitors to the studios and the general public will be incorporated.
A new roundabout and a new secondary exit point on the A308 are planned to upgrade the access to the studios and manage traffic.