They’re expanding the whole of Leavesden studios aren’t they, I think Warner wanted it to be the home of the DC universe.
Yep. I believe they have more based on the Potter films in the works too.
Because instead of waiting for the new government in September. It would be July any new government would take charge.
Is there any indication that this project is waiting on a new government? This project seems relatively nonpartisan (given both major parties current get down, anyway)
Both major parties seem keen to have the development move ahead. The current Conservative government has agreed to the unprecedented step, for this kind of commercial development, of passing planning permission via the national parliament rather than the local council that would normally handle such matters. Apparently Universal senior Execs (Page Thompson and John McReynolds) have also been in discussion with the main opposition party, Labour (who are likely to form the new government), including party leader Keir Starmer, and undoubtedly will have received a warm welcome. The local MP, from the Labour Party, is extremely supportive.
There is zero chance of a new government doing anything before the summer recess to approve Universal’s plans, there’s just not enough time. So we would be looking at the autumn in any case.
I don't mean that. I meant it before hand we would have to wait till September then maybe next year. But now at least it's July and later this year.
If the PM doesn’t call the election until late October/November I think there would be enough time to approve Universal’s plans before the election is held (if the government wanted to do that), including passing the relevant secondary legislation in parliament. This could include a public consultation on Universal’s planning application before the summer recess. But if there’s a general election on 4 July that timetable will be put on hold until the autumn. I don’t think it will make a big difference, but I can’t see that an early election will make the process happen any quicker.
Largely agree with this, although approval of Universal’s plans will give the company complete confidence to commit all the resources they wish to planning the entire project, as soon as they wish. While senior executives like Thompson and McReynolds probably have a good idea of how enthusiastic the current government is to see the project happen (and perhaps how a Labour government would respond), there’s still a risk to getting too far ahead of the legislative process. While breaking ground isn’t expected until late next year, I’d guess a huge amount of work is required before that happens, so as soon as there is certainty about the project being approved by the UK authorities the sooner Universal can commit fully to that effort.
Maybe this is some of the good news the government is going to use during an election campaign. A couple of weeks before the election they announce universal studios investing 10 billion would sound good.
They can’t do that, it’s not how it works. It will be parliament which approves the planning application, not the government. For that to happen parliament has to be sitting, and if there is, as seems likely, an election on 4 July, parliament will be dissolved next week. So no time for parliament to approve the legislation.
There’s 10 billion pounds on the line. You’d be surprised.
I don't think you understand how this works, if planning permission is to proceed via a Special Development Order.
I understand how it works and how it needs to be voted on but it’s not the ministers doing the paperwork. It’s the civil servants and the ministers, Secretary of State and whoever else shows up, sign on the dotted line and take the credit.
