Sky Studios Elstree Expansion Approved

Planning approval has been granted for the expansion of Sky’s film and TV studio in Hertfordshire, which has been operational since 2022.

Sky Studios Elstree, financed and developed by L&G, will expand with an additional ten stages. The expansion is expected to create over 2,000 jobs and attract £2 billion of production investment to the U.K. within the first five years of operation.

Following the expansion, Sky Studios Elstree will have 22 stages across 65 acres, with a total of 470,000 square feet of premium stage space for filming.

Dana Strong, group CEO at Sky, said: “The U.K.’s media and entertainment sector is a global powerhouse, and the expansion of Sky Studios Elstree will elevate it even further, creating thousands of jobs and opening doors for the next generation of British talent. With the government’s continued support through business rates relief and film and TV tax incentives, our creative economy is poised to be a driving force of U.K. growth.”

António Simões, group CEO at L&G, added: “The approval of the next phase of development at Sky Studios Elstree is welcome news for the local area and the U.K.’s creative industries and sends a strong signal that shows the U.K. is serious about growth. As a leading institutional investor, L&G is committed to getting capital behind projects that will drive our growth industries and give them a competitive edge on the world stage, while creating jobs and improving infrastructure for local people.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “This government is backing the builders, not the blockers. By cutting unnecessary red tape and transforming the planning system, we are getting Britain building and bringing in private investment to build an economy that rewards working people. This expansion is a massive vote of confidence in the U.K.’s world-leading film and TV sector that will create thousands of new jobs and boost investment into the U.K., ensuring Elstree’s status as a hub of British creativity and innovation.”

Adrian Wootton OBE, CEO of the British Film Commission, noted: “Sky Studios Elstree’s expansion is a significant moment for the U.K.’s creative industries. Investment of this scale creates thousands of new jobs, supports a depth of talent and keeps our film and TV sector at the cutting edge of global entertainment. Inward investment film and HETV production was worth almost £5 billion to the U.K. in 2024. We anticipate an even higher level of investment in 2025, but having the right mix of studio space is vital if we’re to build on such success in the face of intensifying global competition. As we collectively look to drive greater growth in the UK, we should be making every effort to support projects like Sky Studios Elstree North, for its local, national and international advantages.”