The Isle of Wight Council has given conditional approval for plans to develop a brand new film and television studio in East Cowes.
Medina Studios Ltd’s development proposal includes 4 sound stages, 2 workshops, production support facilities, parking and landscaping at a site known as Kingston Marine Park, next to Saunders Way.
The company previously said:
“Built on 14 acres of river frontage Medina Studios will be home to the Island’s first screen-based media hub.
“Digitally advanced, and future-proofed, Medina Studios will provide the ability for productions to base themselves on the Island and take advantage of its wonderful locations.”
The creative vision for the studios will include significant economic benefit to the Island as well as a training strategy to nurture a local production crew.
The proposed development was brought before the planning committee for approval yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) due to the site being council-owned land.
19 conditions in the report include that development begins within 3 years of planning permission, no development takes place until a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) is submitted and approved by the local planning authority and a Flood Warning and Evacuation Plan (FWEP) is submitted and approved by the same authority before the site is brought into use.
A CEMP spells out measures to minimise the environmental impacts during a development’s construction phase. FWEPs detail measures to be taken to prepare for floods as well as be to implemented during them – plans aimed at ensuring safety and minimal damage.
After mitigation concerns relating to barn owls and reptiles were raised by councillors Nick Stuart and Peter Spink, planning officer Sarah Wilkinson amended the wording of condition 8 which relates to a Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Plan (BMEP).
The presented report said a BMEP must be submitted and approved to prevent impacts to protected species and habitats as well as to ensure their favourable conservation status.
The originally worded condition reads:
“No development above foundation level of the new building, shall take place until a BMEP, detailing but not limited to, details of landscaping (incorporating native shrub and trees including any biodiversity gains) shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority.
“These agreed details shall be implemented in accordance with a timetable set out within the submitted BMEP.”
Ms Wilkinson changed the wording of condition 8 to reference specifically to slow worms and barn owls.
They could make a disaster movie and call it ‘Sandown!’
What about badgers?- They’re protected too….