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Plans to build a 100 acre development for Pinewood Studios in the Green Belt near Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire have been halted by the government.

The planned £200 million investment into 1400 ‘live-in’ film sets, a primary school, various retail and community facilities and new office space was publicly rejected on Friday 20th January 2012 according to the directive of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles.

Planning permission for the development was initially denied in 2009, since when protests have taken place against the so-called ‘Project Pinewood’.

In 2010, Pinewood Studios officially appealed against the opposition to their development plans, stating that the project would prove vital for both the UK economy and the creative industry at large. The studio’s vision of Iver Heath as a ‘streetscape’ inspired by Paris, Venice and New York was publicly denounced by locals, who have been supported by South Buckinghamshire District Council leader, Adrian Bushby.

“Coming so closely after the appalling HS2 decision from the government, this is better news for the district, the people of Iver and surrounding areas, and for the environment,” Bushby has said in reaction to the ruling.

He added: “Unlike the HS2 decision, this demonstrates that the government means what it said in its recent draft National Planning Policy Framework: ‘The government attaches great importance to Green Belts. The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence.’”

An inquiry was held in reaction to Pinewood’s appeal in April 2011 and the decision to reject the development was publicly announced on Friday.

Representatives have issued a statement relating Pinewood’s ‘disappointment’ at the ruling and their plans to ‘review the decision’.

Elsewhere on the Blog

• Future of HS2 in Doubt?

• £120 Million Eco Development Planned for Dudley

• Green Light for Leeds Office Development

Published by JuliaF on Monday, 23 January 2012 at 9:00 AM