Pinewood Studios presses for £200m studios growth

The film studios where hits including Skyfall, pictured, and Pirates of the Caribbean were made have submitted plans for a new £200m expansion.

Pinewood Studios has dramatically revised proposals after a previous development was blocked by the Government last year, though it would still use greenbelt land.

The company says expansion is vital as it has been forced to turn work away. The implementation of tax breaks for the most expensive television production and animation is set to increase demand.

The development would include new studios, stages, workshops, production offices and streetscapes for filming and support more than 8,100 full-time jobs, the company says. The enhanced facilities would generate an additional £37m a year in UK exports.

Film directors including Sir Ridley Scott have thrown their weight behind the scheme, which Sir Ridley called "long overdue".

Ivan Dunleavy, the chief executive of Pinewood Shepperton, said it was a "critical opportunity for the creative industries" to create the infrastructure necessary to meet rising demand.