Film commission backs Amazon MGM expansion of studios

Amazon MGM Studios' planned expansion of a Berkshire-based complex would be a "considerable boost" for filmmaking, a government-funded industry body said.

Bray Film Studios, in Water Oakley, near Windsor, was previously used by the Hammer Films company.

The previous owner of the studios got planning permission to expand them in 2022 and Amazon MGM bought the site in 2024.

The British Film Commission (BFC) said it "recognises that the studio benefits from Amazon MGM's commitment" and welcomed its "ambition to support employment opportunities for both the local community and more widely across the UK sector".

The company has been using the site since 2022 and a public consultation regarding the expansion project closed in May.

Amazon MGM said its current proposals, which include building a multi-storey car park and six new sound stages, would help "realise the site's full potential".

The expansion is expected to create 470 jobs as it is built and 920 in Berkshire more widely.

Samantha Perahia, the BFC's head of production, told the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead that it supports the plan.

"The enhancements proposed for Bray Studios will not only allow the region to build on its already established and impressive reputation amongst international clients," she said.

She added that it "would also provide a considerable boost to the combined efforts of the BFC and our public and commercial partners in marketing the region, and the wider UK."

The planning application will be decided later.