Unanimous Backing for Gillette Building Film Studios
Planning committee gives green light to six new sound stages
A CGI of the aerial view of the proposed development. Picture: Gensler
March 18, 2025
A historic landmark is set to be refurbished as part of the development of ‘state-of-the-art’ film studios. The Gillette Factory in Isleworth will undergo major redesign after Hounslow Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light to the plans on Monday (17 March).
The new studios, on Syon Lane, will specialise in film, virtual production, and digital content creation. Six new large sound stages will be built alongside several offices, workshops and a café accessible to the public.
None of the listed components of the site will be demolished, however other non-listed buildings will be knocked down. This includes the Old Mould Shop, the Caxton Building, Vanmatic Building, the north wing of the Campbell’s Building, the multi-storey car park and various smaller outbuildings.
The Gillette Factory building, NatWest Building, and the south wing of the Campbell’s Building will be retained and refurbished. Extensions will be added to some of these buildings to accommodate the modern film studio facilities.
A number of concerns were raised by Historic England, Sky, and Transport for London (TfL). Historic England flagged that one of the proposed sound stages will be visible behind the Gillette Factory, which could potentially diminish the prominence of the iconic clock tower. However, following design improvements the organisation accepted the plans.
A visualisation of the entrance to the planned new studio complex. Picture: Gensler
Sky operates film studios nearby, and shares transport concerns with TfL. Syon Lane is already a heavily congested junction, which could be exacerbated by the development. A number of road improvements are expected, including restricting A4 access to emergency vehicles only to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists.
Public transport access to the site is also considered to be poor. The development is expected to generate an additional 108 bus trips at morning peak time, and 164 extra trips at evening peak time. This is predicted to lead to overcrowding of bus routes, for which TfL has requested £1.15 million to cope with the likely demand.
A new six-storey car park is also proposed, with 413 spaces. This has raised concerns about car dependency and congestion as the site proposes 522 per cent more car parking spaces than the London Plan would permit.
It is estimated the development will create 801 construction jobs and 3,404 net additional permanent jobs. The developer, The Vinyl Factory, has outlined plans to ensure 1,430 of the permanent jobs will be taken by residents of the London Borough of Hounslow.
A CGI of the of the proposed development viewed from Great West Road. Picture: Gensler
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces at Hounslow Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the area will play a ‘vital role’ in Hounslow’s future. He said, “The iconic Gillette Building on the Golden Mile is a vital part of Hounslow’s history and now, with this decision, the area will play a vital part in Hounslow’s future as a burgeoning hub for film production and the creative enterprises.
“As we speak, Hounslow Council is working on its new 10-year Culture Strategy that aims to turn the borough into a thriving destination for culture. I welcome this fantastic development, sitting within a Creative Enterprise Zone and one of our key focus areas for growth and jobs, as it will help put Hounslow on the map, not just as a place where culture is consumed, but where it is produced.”
The development was unanimously approved by the Hounslow Planning Committee, subject to completion of Section 106 agreements and Stage 2 Greater London Authority approval.
Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter
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