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Angela Rayner reconsiders rejected application for Marlow film studio

Decision on multimillion-pound development is being closely watched as a test of Labour’s support for the creative industries

The deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, has called in a rejected planning application for a multimillion-pound film studio development in what is being closely watched as a test of Labour’s appetite to prioritise economic growth in the creative industries. Sources close to both schemes expressed hope that the political backdrop has improved given the Labour government’s commitment to reform the planning system and statements about the importance of the film and TV industry. “We expect the forthcoming planning inquiry to reveal that the economic benefits would be negligible and we hope that Angela Rayner will then decide that this is not a good use of green belt land as it will do nothing to generate growth or fix the housing crisis,” he said.

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