Langleybury Film Hub Review of Economic Evidence

Langleybury had been utilised for a range of activities including supporting film and TV productions over the past 20 years. This use had intensified in recent years, with the wider Hertfordshire area also developing a significant film and TV cluster, with multiple large studios and soundstages.

A planning application was submitted for the development of a film hub at Langleybury. The proposed development included investment into the Grade II listed Mansion House and other listed buildings to enable continued use as a filming location; a craft campus with workshops that would support film and TV supply chain businesses; four sound stages, production offices and support spaces; an education/training/meeting facility; and a range of supporting infrastructure. As the Application Site was situated within the Green Belt, there was a need to make the case for very special circumstances.

Three Rivers District Council sought external independent specialist advice to review and comment upon the economic evidence submitted with the application. Hardisty Jones was appointed to carry out this review, clarifying whether the benefits claimed by the applicant, as well as the need case which had been articulated, were fair and robustly assessed.

We conducted desk-based research to review evidence and held discussions with key stakeholders on the likely trajectory of the UK film and TV industry and how this was anticipated to influence the demand and supply of production space. The evidence concluded that there was likely to be significant growth in demand for production space over the next few years. However, there was uncertainty in the evidence in relation to production space supply, noting a potential oversupply of production space should all planned developments in the pipeline at the time be delivered.

Hardisty Jones reviewed the information the applicant provided to justify the need for the proposed development and the economic impact methodology submitted alongside the application, to understand the robustness of their analysis and if there were any weaknesses in the approach. We concluded that whilst the analysis presented would benefit from improved clarity and accuracy, this was unlikely to change the fundamental conclusions reached.

The report concluded that there would be positive economic effects of the proposed development, but potential risks related to the wider film and TV sector could occur (unrelated to the proposed development). The report was used to inform Three Rivers District Council’s decision making and ongoing discussions with the Applicant

If you would like to talk to us about how we can support your efforts to review the case for and assess the economic impacts for a development, please get in touch with Stuart using the contact details provided below.