Film commission backs Amazon MGM expansion of studios
The Berkshire film studio was previously home to iconic horror studio Hammer Films.
A government-backed industry organization has endorsed Amazon MGM Studios' proposal to enlarge its Berkshire-based complex, hailing it as a "considerable boost" for the film industry.
The expansion project, which promises to establish "a world-class studio blending function and desirability," involves Bray Film Studios in Water Oakley, near Windsor, a location historically utilized by Hammer Films.
Amazon MGM acquired the site in 2024, following the previous owner's successful acquisition of planning permission for expansion in 2022.
The British Film Commission (BFC) expressed its acknowledgment of "the studio benefits from Amazon MGM's commitment" and commended the company's "ambition to support employment opportunities for both the local community and more widely across the UK sector."
Amazon MGM has been operating at the site since 2022, and a public consultation on the expansion concluded in May. The company stated that its current plans, which encompass the construction of a multi-storey car park and six new sound stages, aim to "realize the site's full potential."
The expansion is projected to generate 470 construction jobs and an additional 920 jobs across Berkshire.
Samantha Perahia, the BFC's head of production, conveyed the organization's support for the plan to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. She remarked, "The enhancements proposed for Bray Studios will not only allow the region to build on its already established and impressive reputation amongst international clients," but also "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."
A decision on the planning application is pending.