Pinewood Group Limited commissioned LUC to provide landscape design LVIA and ecological services for the £500 million expansion of Shepperton Studios – one of the UK’s most important film and television production facilities.

Our goal was to create a world-class film production facility while ensuring environmental sustainability and enhancing the local community. Our work provides a strong and resilient landscape framework, reinforcing and enhancing existing landscape and ecological assets in an integrated manner for the benefit of all.

The expansion fosters a vibrant film hub whilst maximising its ecological impact.  

LUC landscape architects carefully designed the expansion to seamlessly integrate new soundstages, workshops, and office spaces within an attractive, biodiverse and functional environment.

LUC's ecologists safeguarded sensitive wildlife habitats through the creation of new woodland areas, ecological corridors, and improved water management systems.

Additionally, we developed cost-effective methods to establish and enhance over 6 hectares of diverse wildflower meadows.

LUC designed Studios Walk, a new public amenity space offering a 1.75km looped walk and the new Sherwood Bridge pedestrian crossing over the River Ash Studios Walk also forms part of the landscape associated with the historic Littleton House and Park, and has an interesting association with Shepperton Studios, most famously providing a backdrop for scenes in The African Queen (1951). The circa £1 million investment by Shepperton Studios significantly improves the amenity value for the public, whilst maximising the wildlife and biodiversity potential of the site.

This space fosters valuable recreational opportunities for the local community and was officially opened by The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng, MP for Spelthorne and Andrew M Smith OBE DL, Corporate Affairs Director Pinewood Group on the 22 September 2023.

LUC's landscape architects and ecologists worked in close partnership throughout the project.

This integrated approach ensured the expansion catered to film production needs while safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment.

The Shepperton Studios expansion exemplifies LUC's dedication to sustainable design.

Through innovative landscape architecture and ecological expertise, we are helping to build a thriving film industry that coexists harmoniously with nature.