Application Submitted for Huge Studio Complex by Gillette Building
Film production capacity at the site would be doubled
A visualisation of the entrance to the planned new studio complex. Picture: Gensler
September 3, 2024
A planning application (P/2024/2843) has now been submitted to allow a major expansion of film production around the Gillette Building.
An outline of the film studio campus on the 4.4 hectare plot designed by Gensler for The Vinyl Factory was revealed earlier this year. The designs submitted are substantially unchanged from those published previously.
The redevelopment aims to preserve the heritage of the Grade II listed Gillette and NatWest buildings while doubling the size of facilities for digital content creation. This includes retaining and refurbishing existing heritage buildings and constructing new sound stages. The plan also includes production offices, workshops, and a café.
The Gillette Building site, located within the Great West Road Industrial Business Park and formerly the European headquarters for Gillette, is already used for film production by The Vinyl Factory which has run the site since 2013.
Films produced at the site include Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Fox) – 2015, Allied (Paramount Pictures) – 2016, Bohemian Rhapsody (Fox) – 2018, Infinite (Paramount Pictures) – 2020 and All the Old Knives (Amazon) – 2021.
A CGI of the of the proposed development viewed from Great West Road. Picture: Gensler
The Gillette factory building is to be retained and refurbished into predominantly office and support spaces for the studios. Other buildings on the site that hold heritage value, such as the Engineer’s House, the NatWest Bank, and the main part of the non-listed Campbells Building, would also be retained.
Permission is being sought to demolish the Old Mould shop, Caxton Building, Vanmatic Building, the rear/north wing of Campbells Building and associated outbuildings.
New buildings would be erected to house studios for virtual production, film and digital content creation, comprising sound stages and offices.
The applicant claims that the development could provide 2,000 jobs at the site with a further 2,000 jobs supported in the local supply chain.
A CGI of the aerial view of the proposed development. Picture: Gensler
The Vinyl Factory has a track record of repurposing historic and listed buildings through investing in creative industry led businesses. Its principal operation is at 180 Studios in 180 Strand, WC2 which now includes a collection of studios equipped with LED and digital technology for productions, events, conferences and exhibitions.
The iconic building at the junction of the Great West Road and Syon Lane operated as a factory for Gillette until 2006 when the company moved production to Poland.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |
