Plans for the UK\u2019s largest film studio, which would have been built by collapsed contractor ISG, have officially been scrapped.<\/p>\n
The \u00a3700m Sunset Waltham Cross Studios project, just off the M25 in Hertfordshire, was meant to be developed by Blackstone and US-studio firm Hudson Pacific Properties.<\/p>\n
Announced in 2021, the clients appointed ISG to deliver the 91-acre facility the following year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Erith carried out enabling works<\/a> at the site, but the project was paused in 2023 with listed steel subcontractor Severfield having to announce it was removing the work from its order book<\/a>.<\/p>\n In repeated statements to Construction News<\/em> since, the developers insisted the project remained \u201cpaused\u201d rather than cancelled.<\/p>\n But this week it has was announced that they were exploring alternative uses for the site.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the joint developers said they were disappointed that \u201ca studio development is no longer feasible at this time given market conditions\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are determined to work with the council to secure the best possible alternative use for the site to support economic prosperity for the local community,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n Broxbourne Council leader Mark Mills-Bishop said: \u201cI am extremely disappointed to learn that the planned Sunset Studios facility will now not proceed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is my understanding that the market conditions are currently not favourable for new film studios across the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a boom in film studio builds after 2020, with facilities including Sky\u2019s \u00a3190m studio complex built by Bam Construct<\/a> in Hertsmere, Hertfordshire, Laing O\u2019Rourke<\/a>\u2019s studio project at the former Littlewoods headquarters in Liverpool<\/a>, and Curo Construction\u2019s \u00a3250m Shinfield Studios in Reading.<\/p>\n However, following the lengthy actors\u2019 and writers\u2019 strikes in the US in 2023, studios have been reported to be reviewing their financial investments.<\/p>\n