Herstmere Borough Council has published a report into the future of Elstree Film Studios, stating it is “not sustainable” for the council to continue investing in the facility.
The studios, much of which were built in the early 1900s, represent the single largest asset owned by the council. Given its age and the nature of its construction, the studios require extensive refurbishment of their major infrastructure, with recent asbestos findings adding increased urgency to the work.
Under the terms of the council’s 30-year lease, there is no requirement for it to continue to operate the studios as a film and TV studio, said a report by the council.
A 2024 soft-market valuation sought to ensure Elstree—home to films such as the original Star Wars and The Shining, as well as TV programmes including The Crown and Strictly Come Dancing—would continue in service as a production facility but found “limited appetite” among prospective buyers.
While the latest report, Elstree Film Studios Ltd – Way Forward, said the continuation of film and TV production remains a key objective, “reflecting its heritage and contribution to the local economy,” its refined procurement principles included a recommendation for consideration of “current use and open-market valuations of the Elstree Studios estate, including relevant alternative-use scenarios, subject to planning and other statutory constraints”.
