British media company Sky has finally secured government approval to proceed with expansion plans for its film and TV studio in Elstree. 

Legal & General (L&G), which will finance and develop the project, plans to add 10 new soundstages, resulting in a total of 22 stages across 65 acres that offer 470,000 square feet of space for filming. The final decision is a reversal driven by an appeal from Sky, after the local council initially voted to reject the plans last year due to environmental concerns.

Since launching in 2022, Sky Studios Elstree has hosted film productions including musical feature Wicked (pictured, Universal), Paddington in Peru (StudioCanal) and this summer’s Jurassic World Rebirth (Universal).

The expansion is expected to lift the regional sector significantly. Sky estimates that more than 2,000 new jobs will be created, and roughly US$2.7 billion invested in the UK during the bigger studio’s first five years of operation.

“Inward investment in film and high-end TV production was worth almost GBP£5 billion (US$6.7 billion) to the UK in 2024,” noted British Film Commission CEO Adrian Wootton, who praised the expansion as a crucial step to help boost the UK creative industries. “We anticipate an even higher level of investment in 2025, but having the right mix of studio space is vital if we’re to build on such success in the face of intensifying global competition.”

The hub is also home to Sky Up Academy Studios Elstree, which provides tweens and teens ages 11 to 18 with hands-on experience in TV and film work.