Public notices: 'Instantly recognisable' Pinewood Studios film site set for works

Plans to renovate parts of a stately home next to Pinewood Studios, steeped in film, TV and political history, are the top story in this week's public notices. 

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Planning:

Sweeping refurbishments to the roof at Heatherden Hall in Iver Heath, as well as numerous internal improvements, have been submitted to Buckinghamshire Council.

The Grade II listed hall, built in the mid-1860s, is owned by Pinewood Studios Ltd and has served as a shooting location for blockbuster James Bond movies among a long list of credits.

An historical assessment of Heatherden Hall said it was ‘instantly recognisable and a part of wider British social culture and film-making history’.

“This interest is strongly represented in the surviving fabric of the building and also in the back-catalogue of Pinewood film footage,” the assessment added.

While the hall is most recognisable for its film and TV connections, it also holds political significance – being the location of the signing of the Irish Free State Treaty in 1921.

The treaty marked the end of a years long war between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British Crown forces, and the beginnings of an independent Ireland.

Due to Heatherden’s location near to sound stages at Pinewood Studios, it has served as a convenient filming location throughout the studios’ almost 90-year history.

It was used as a secret agent HQ in the Bond movie From Russia With Love. The 007 franchise has a dedicated studio at Pinewood.

The hall often featured in the movies of the Rank Organisation, including those in the Carry On series and of the late comedian Norman Wisdom.

Today it is still used for filming, while also being used for office space and as a venue for weddings.

Plans submitted to Buckinghamshire Council look to replace dilapidated roof sections with new coverings, designed to improve the thermal insulation. New access routes on the roofs are also planned.

“The lack of safe access across the roofs has ultimately led to a lack of regular inspection and maintenance due to the requirement of a cherry picker or scaffolding for access,” the plans said.

In addition, repairs and replacement of doors and windows on some parts of the ground floor are proposed, as well as renovation to a striking porch entrance to the building.

Scaffolding would be put up to allow the porch to be painted in ‘Grecian White’ to match that used on the upper floors of the building, the plans said.

A statement concluded: “Overall, the proposed work will result in improvement to the appearance and performance of the listed building.

“This is achieved by restoring extant historic finishes and features such as slates, lead, timber frames, and improving the energy efficiency by introducing insulated roof build-ups that do not compromise the significance of the building.”