James Bond studio denied $300 mn set extension bid

Hollywood movie bosses have scrapped plans for a $300-million extension at the studio where the James Bond films are shot after they were denied permission to build on protected rural land.

Hollywood movie bosses have scrapped plans for a $300-million extension at the studio where the James Bond films are shot after they were denied permission to build on protected rural land.

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Executives at Pinewood studios in Buckinghamshire, Britain applied to authorities to create a new 100-acre set on an unurbanised area, known as a greenbelt, close to its current location, reports gossip.ie.

The extension would have created a huge new film set location, including streetscapes of Venice, New York, Paris and even a Roman amphitheatre.

The proposal also included plans to build 1,500 houses to be used as filming locations in a project which would have created 630 new jobs.

But the authorities have rejected the application, insisting the scheme would have caused "significant degradation" to the local environment and put wildlife at risk.

However, bosses at the studio where The Dark Knight was also filmed have refused to give up and are currently drawing up new plans for a "greener" design.