Hertsmere Borough Council is consulting on a draft Local Development Order (LDO) for Sky Studios Elstree and Panattoni Park in Borehamwood, which would remove the need for planning applications to be made for minor forms of temporary development.
If approved by full council, the order would extend permitted development rights and eliminate the need for planning applications to be made for certain types of operational development at the sites for example the addition of temporary marquees or structures.
Sky Studios Elstree is a large film and TV studio, approved by Hertsmere Borough Council in September 2020 and developed by Legal and General, in partnership with Sky and sister company NBCUniversal. The studio site comprises 12 flexible sound stages, production offices, production support/workshop space and screening rooms, together with car parking, ancillary facilities and associated works.
Panattoni Park Borehamwood is a purpose built distribution depot off Elstree Way and was approved by the council in July 2019. Compromising four warehouses, associated parking and office space, part of this site is now being leased by Sky Studios Elstree for additional workshop space and to support their operations. Only the part of the site being used by Sky would be covered by the LDO.
Councillor Nik Oakley, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “Hertsmere has a long and flourishing history of film-making and TV production in Elstree and Borehamwood and we want that association to continue well into the future after the successful introduction of an LDO at BBC Elstree in 2020 following local consultation.
“Obviously, at the same time our main concern is ensuring that production activities do not impact on the quality of the lives and surroundings of our residents who live nearby.
“We’ve been working closely with Sky Studios Elstree on drafting a Local Development Order, which will enable studio bosses to manage the operational developments within these sites.
“This order should ensure that people living nearby are not affected by any developments, whilst also providing greater flexibility to Sky Studios Elstree.”
LDOs are used for a range of commercial, business and residential developments. Currently there are more than 130 in place in the UK with Hertsmere the first authority to do so for television production when it introduced the LDO for the Eastenders backlot at BBC Elstree.
The public consultation will run until Thursday 5 October. Following this, a final version of the LDO is set to be considered by full council in early 2024.
The proposed LDOs will provide Sky Studios Elstree with greater flexibility when different productions are filming and cover relatively minor forms of temporary development which would ordinarily be expected to receive planning permission. The details of these structures can be viewed on our website.
If approved the LDO will remain in place for 15 years at Panattoni Park. There is no time limit proposed for Sky Studios Elstree but both LDOs can be reviewed or revoked at any time.
To find out more visit: www.hertsmere.gov.uk/LDO or view the cabinet report: 8.2 2023 07 Draft LDOs Cabinet.pdf (moderngov.co.uk)
Posted on Thursday 7th September 2023