Pinewood Studios’ ambitious plans for a significant expansion have encountered a substantial roadblock due to delays in connecting to the UK’s power grid, Pinewood’s chairman Paul Golding disclosed during a recent call with Business Secretary Jonny Reynolds.
Buckinghamshire Council had approved a 1.4 million square foot expansion for Pinewood Studios last year, a project anticipated to generate over 8,000 new jobs and contribute £640 million annually to the economy. However, Golding highlighted that the studio might have to wait until 2030 for a grid connection, seven years after receiving planning permission, according to sources privy to the conversation.
Golding’s remarks, made in the presence of nearly 200 business leaders, including executives from Siemens, National Grid, and Scottish Power, underscored the extent to which delays in grid connection have become a critical impediment to business growth across various sectors of the economy. Typically, such delays are more commonly associated with renewable energy projects. Notably, in 2022, housing developments in West London faced significant delays for grid connection, as data centres had already utilised existing capacity.
Multiple businesses raised concerns about grid capacity during the hour-long call, which was attended by Reynolds and Gareth Davies, the permanent secretary of the Department for Business and Trade. Executives from National Grid cautioned that existing regulations continue to obstruct growth. Under the current first-come, first-served system, numerous feasible projects languish in the connection queue behind less promising schemes or speculative applications lodged in anticipation of future investment or interest. Consequently, projects can experience prolonged delays waiting for grid connection as they progress through an overburdened queue.
Tom Glover, UK chairman of power conglomerate RWE, has expressed concerns that Britain’s “slow and bureaucratic” electricity grid is stalling the roll-out of substantial investments worth billions of pounds. Despite the enormous potential for economic and job growth, the inadequate infrastructure poses a significant hurdle.
The film industry is also navigating challenges beyond grid delays, such as diminishing demand and the repercussions of the previous year’s writers’ and actors’ strike. In an effort to address these issues and promote productivity, Labour is set to introduce an industrial strategy bill. This bill, expected to be highlighted in the King’s Speech, proposes the formation of a new Industrial Strategy Council focused on supporting the nation’s rapidly growing industries.
The ongoing delays in connecting to the UK power grid threaten not only Pinewood Studios’ expansion but also broader economic growth and investment across multiple sectors. This issue calls for immediate attention and regulatory reform.
