Sky/Universal Studios, Elstree

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since 2022  (Sky Elstree North given the go-ahead in September 2025)

(revised September 2025)

 

 

 

In December 2019, Comcast (the owners of Sky TV and Universal Pictures) made the surprising announcement that they were planning to build a large film studio centre in Borehamwood.  The site is at the eastern end of Elstree Way, between Rowley Lane and the A1, a few dozen metres from where the old ‘MGM-British Studios Borehamwood’ were located.  Some of the land was at that time a lorry park. 

So, just to be clear – these studios are in Borehamwood, not Elstree, but the owners decided to call them ‘Sky Studios Elstree.’  An interesting choice of name.  Since most of the films and HETV productions made here will be for cinema release and the international TV market, not just the UK’s Sky TV, they might possibly have been called ‘Universal Studios Borehamwood’.  But hey, what’s in a name?

 

 

The site is 32 acres and contains 12 sound stages starting at 10,000 sq ft up to 40,000sq ft.  There is also over 250,000 sq ft of workshop space, five fully kitted-out production offices and six acres of backlot.  Some stages are able to be combined to create an area of 60,000 sq ft or reduced to become smaller spaces.  The land is owned by Legal and General, who have also part-funded the project.

The campus is powered by over 16,000 solar panels which are placed across every rooftop, any remaining energy needs are sourced from a renewable supplier.  The studios harvest rainwater, use sustainable LED lighting and electric vehicles plus all operations are free from single-use plastic.  Sustainability was built into the design and operation of the site, with the ambition to become the most sustainable film and TV studio in the world.  In fact, according to the studios’ website:

 

Albert, the film and TV consortium for sustainability and part of BAFTA, has officially released its Studio Sustainability Standard Report 2024 which looks at studio sustainability data from across the world.

Through the report, Sky Studios Elstree has been awarded a mark of ‘outstanding’ and overall score of 95%, which is the highest score for any studio globally, cementing the studio as the most sustainable in the world.

 

Excellent news.  Well done to them!

 

 

The studios are home to Sky originals, as well as films from Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Working Title, and TV series from Universal Studio Group.  Other companies are able to hire the facilities too when space is available.  Sky said they planned to invest £3bn in new production at the site over 5 years.

My understanding is that planning permission has not been granted for studio audiences to use these facilities so they will not be used for multicamera TV entertainment shows.  These stages are purely intended for high-end TV drama and feature films.

 

Planning permission was granted in July 2020 and work was well under way throughout 2021.  The first stage was due to be available from April 2022 with the rest following throughout the year.  The first project to be based here was Universal Pictures’ adaptation of Wicked, which has been delivered as two films.  This was delayed during much of 2023 due to the US actors’ strike.  The final stage – Stage 5 – was officially opened by Prince Edward on 9th March 2023, a day before he became the Duke of Edinburgh.

By autumn 2023 the studios had hosted two major film productions as well as a number of smaller projects.  One of these was Paddington in Peru, which commenced filming in July.  In March 2024 it was announced that Jurassic World: Rebirth would be made here later in the year.  Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy also filmed some scenes here in 2024.  Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi began filming here in January 2025 and wrapped on 27th March.  According to internet reports, Masters of the Universe also used these studios and wrapped in June 2025.  However, I have not been able to confirm this.  According to Broadcast magazine, Sky Max comedy series Mr Bigstuff has also been filmed here.  In October ’25 filming began here on Robert Egger’s Werwulf for Focus Features and Universal.

 

The land immediately to the north of this site is also owned by Legal and General and part of it was granted 3 years’ planning permission from August 2022 to be used as a back lot. In March 2024 Hertsmere Council agreed a ‘Development Consent Order’ which means that the studios could build temporary sets without having to apply for planning permission each time they were needed for a production.  This is a very sensible arrangement and is the same as the one that applies to the Albert Square set at Fairbanks Studios (BBC Elstree Centre).  This land used as a back lot is where Sky are now building 10 more stages.  More on this below.

 

 

In September 2022 it was revealed that Sky Studios had taken out a lease on two huge new industrial buildings on the site of the old MGM British Studios, close by on the other side of Rowley Lane.  This area is now known as Panattoni Park.  They are being used as workshops and lighting/grip/scenery/prop storage.  Universal Production Services are now based there.  The Development Consent Order referred to above also applies to those buildings – although to be honest I’m not sure why, unless some filming is intended there too.

 

 

In 2021 Hertsmere Council designated the block of land between the A1 and the existing development in Borehamwood a ‘Media Quarter’.  The Sky studios represent only a fraction of this.  To the north is land owned by Legal and General and north of that a large area owned by Gilston Investments Ltd where it is proposed to build Hertswood Studios, with 21 stages.

 

Sky Studios Elstree North

 

In April 2021 Legal and General put forward the site adjoining the Sky Studios (marked ‘B’ above) for consideration under Hertsmere Borough Council’s ‘Call for Employment Sites’ 2021 appeal.  They were suggesting that more sound stages could be built here.  It is currently undeveloped open land that was previously earmarked for a centre of sporting excellence.  That planning permission was not implemented and has now expired.

In June 2022 some further information was released.  Sky revealed its intention to construct a further 10 stages plus supporting facilities on this site.  They sent out letters to local residents explaining their proposal and inviting comments.  This site is being called Sky Studios Elstree North.   As part of this scheme, Sky is also proposing to build a new ‘Sky Up Academy’ for students aged 14 to 18.  Apparently, further ideas include a museum celebrating the screen heritage of the town, which will be a popular idea with many people.  A back lot of 5 acres is also included in these proposals.  This will be used by productions based on both Sky Elstree sites.

The proposed stages are as follows:  1 at 40,000 sq ft, 2 at 25,0000 sq ft, 5 at 20,000 sq ft and 2 at 10,000 sq ft.

A planning application was submitted in September 2022.  Unfortunately, in May 2024 the application was refused by 6 votes to 5.  However, this scheme was  far from dead.  A Sky spokesperson is quoted as saying:

 

“We are disappointed that the committee went against the advice of their officers and their recommendation to approve our planning application.

“Before moving forward, we will be taking some time to assess our next steps and will engage further with the council, planning officers and community stakeholders.

“We remain committed to delivering our plans for Sky Studios Elstree North which will deliver significant local and national benefits, including creating 2,000 new jobs and unlocking £2billion of production investment in the UK.”

 

At a Hertsmere council cabinet meeting on October 9th 2024, the authority’s leader Cllr Jeremy Newmark confirmed that he had “seen a formal notice from Sky of their intention to submit an appeal” to the planning inspectorate.  He said it is “now, effectively, a live appeal in process”.  This appeal joined those for Marlow Studios and Holyport Studios, all of which were refused planning permission earlier in the year.  Holyport Studios were turned down by the government in June 2025 but their application was not well presented and had little support.  Marlow, on the other hand, is a very good scheme and is likely to be accepted – we will hear by the end of November.

November 8th 2024 was the date the process began.  The hearing took place over eight sitting days starting March 25th 2025.

Great news!  The expansion was given the go-ahead by the government on 22nd September 2025.  According to a statement from Sky, the expansion will create over 2,000 jobs and attract £2bn of production investment to the UK within the first five years of operation.   Sky Group chief executive Dana Strong is quoted as saying:

“The UK’s media and entertainment sector is a global powerhouse, and the expansion of Sky Studios Elstree will elevate it even further, creating thousands of jobs and opening doors for the next generation of British talent. With the government’s continued support through business rates relief and film and TV tax incentives, our creative economy is poised to be a driving force of UK growth.”